Interview Reflection

I interviewed Brooke Bunting, a Lynchburg local and graduate student at Liberty University, about the construction here on campus. We met in the Tilley Student Center when most students were in class, leaving the area quiet, and I captured Bunting's lively and passionate opinions concerning the growth and change at Liberty. Though I only asked fifteen questions, my interviewee was kind enough to provide much more information than I needed for my project; something that made taking notes a bit of a challenge.

To improve upon this issue, I should have requested permission to record our interview. Had I done this, I could've looked back on the conversation and gathered more coherent information on Bunting's responses. In addition, while my questions prompted long responses, they also took us off-topic several times (something one could equate to both Bunting and myself having ADHD, but nonetheless).

Other than these changes, I believe the interview went very well overall. Bunting spoke plainly and openly about the good and the bad Liberty's construction projects have done for the students. Moreover, though veering slightly off-topic, she also offered insight into the challenges that our leadership (i.e., Resident Assistant and Resident Shepherds, along with their Directors) often experiences; with Liberty focusing their projects on students and visitors, while ignoring the needs of those who look out for our physical and spiritual well-being.

If I was to develop a story on our interview, this is the topic I would focus on. Bunting revealed insight into the fact that our leadership is kept in the dark about construction projects that affect their dorms, highlighting the miscommunication (or lack of) that can happen. She spoke prominently about the fact that Resident Assistants and Directors who live out-of-state have nowhere to stay off campus during their days off; resulting in them staying on their halls and having to do their jobs anyway.

Bunting's suggestion to fix this problem was for Liberty to invest money into a project similar to the Annex: converting a motel into a resort for leadership. She attested that charging a small fee per night would be fine, so long as there's somewhere for our leadership to relax and actually get a break.

After this insightful interview, I sent Bunting a text to thank her for her openness and honesty regarding the pros and cons of construction on Liberty's campus.