Every week, Syracuse University professor Aileen Gallagher will be helping Longreads highlight the best of college journalism. Here’s this week’s pick:
While most good journalists are generalists, sometimes a background in the subject you’re covering helps add some perspective to your story. Kyla Cheung studied computer science and creative writing at Columbia, a combination that positions her to tell a particular story well. In “Code Red,” published in The Eye, Cheung looks at the dark side of computer science studies. There is no field hotter than computer science now, and public successes of people like Mark Zuckerberg and David Karp raise expectations for everyone. In this week’s #college #longreads pick, Cheung explores Columbia’s computer science program with a deep understanding of her peers, and a fascination with their unique culture.
Code Red: Struggling for Wellness in Computer Science
Reported and written by Kyla Cheung.
April 18, 2013 | 22 minutes (5,470 words)
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Professors and students: Share your favorite stories by tagging them with #college #longreads on Twitter, or email links to aileen@longreads.com.
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