For the past week now, staff reporter Deborah Ladd and I have been manipulating our way through all the pushy students and mean bus drivers in attempts to get interviews for our up-coming story regarding life in sororities and fraternities. To say the least, life as a car-less journalist was very difficult.

On day one, we thought we were prepared. We'd created a page and a half long list of questions, printed out multiple bus schedules and times of arrival, written down each sorority and fraternity that we were planning on visiting and their address, and had even coordinated with teachers times we were going to be leaving class.

We sat through the first five minutes of our fourth-period journalism class, listening to updates and story suggestions. We then had to wait for some pictures from the camera we needed to be uploaded on to a computer, and had to learn how to make adjustments on the camera as well. By this time, the bus we were supposed to have caught had already left. But no worries! We had printed out a second bus schedule, just in case! The unfortunate thing was that we hadn't looked at the second bus schedule, since we hadn't anticipated on having to use it, and it said the next time the bus we needed would be arriving, would be at 11:20 AM. This was definitely too late.

Quickly, Deborah maneuvered her way through the MTD website and found us a completely different bus to catch, in five minutes, about a block and a half away. We scurried with the camera and rushed out the door, determined to make it to this stop. Out of breath we made it on time, and boarded the bus, sitting in the first seat we could find. That's when we realized, in our mad-dash out the door we'd forgotten our questions! We were on the bus, and basically had no time to go back to Uni to print out a new schedule, so being the quick-thinking journalists we are, we whipped out a pen and started writing as many interview questions we could think of on the back of the bus schedule.

When we arrived and made our way to the first sorority, Alpha Phi, we were slightly stressed out, and didn't really know how to get in. We cautiously rang the doorbell, and luckily someone let us step inside. The president whom I'd emailed, was at class and therefore not available for an interview; fortunately enough though, the vice-President was willing to give us one instead. After a few mispronunciations (we said Alpha 'Fie' instead of Alpha 'Fee') we made it through!

The following days though weren't any much easier. Having caught the right bus at the right time, on our way to Delta Delta Delta sorority, we were quite pleased with ourselves. When we came to Euclid, where we knew we needed to get off, we requested a stop and got off. Too bad we had gotten off at the crossing of Euclid and street-signless road.

We wandered aimlessly, going east when we needed to go west and once we'd finally arrived, we'd realized the stop we had gotten off at was a good mile away from where we'd actually needed to be. Feet sore from walking around in high heels, we rang the doorbell to Tri Delt. Again, the president wasn't there. This time though, no one was willing to help us out. We left after a couple of minutes, tired, feet sore, and without an interview. The bus we wanted to catch back to Uni kept taunting us, driving right by us but not actually ever stopping. After that experience we swore we'd make day three work out!

Day three, of course, wasn't perfect. Again, having left promptly at the beginning of class we caught the right bus at the right time, but due to all the students we were forced to the back where we couldn't really see out the windows properly for our stop. We made one stop at the main library, but assuming we could get off closer to where we actually needed, we stayed on the bus.

Only, once the driver started to drive away, we told us that the next stop would be quite a ways up and we "would have quite a bit of walking to do." Greeeaat... We immediately got off at the next stop and orienting ourselves in the right direction made it to our first fraternity interview. Again the president wasn't there. This time though, his absence was anticipated and a former vice-President aided us. We got an interview as well as a tour of the house, and pictures that we needed! It was the best of the visits thus far.

We still have two more houses to visit: one sorority, and one fraternity. Having experienced quite a few mistakes (ones we definitely don't wish to repeat), hopefully these will go a little smoother! Wish us luck in our adventures! We've come to discover that journalism really is more than just writing and editing!