Assignment Desk

Protests over California tuition increase

tyson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:56:50 GMT

Angry students statewide are protesting a 32-percent undergraduate tuition hike instituted by the California Board of Regents.

Protesting students and others say the increased tuition will hurt working and middle-class students who benefit from state-funded education. But officials argue that a fee increase and deep cuts in school spending are necessary because of a persistent budget crisis that has forced reductions across California's state government.

CNN wants to know your thoughts on the tuition hikes in California as well as other universities and colleges around the country. Share your photos, video and stories.

"New Moon" mania

hhanks — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:13:27 GMT

Fans lined up for days to be the first to see “New Moon,” the highly-anticipated sequel to teen vampire movie, “Twilight.”

Are you a “Twilight” fan? Tell CNN why you are looking forward to the new movie.

Share your photos or video from the lines for “New Moon,” and if you’ve already had the chance to see the movie, share your review here.

Interview a job seeker

hhanks — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:20:01 GMT

With the unemployment rate currently at 10.2 percent, many Americans likely know someone who is looking for work.

We want to hear their stories. Interview a friend, family member or acquaintance who is unemployed and find out his or her situation.

Here are some suggested questions:

1. How long have you been looking for work?

2. Do you still have confidence that you will find a job?

3. How have you supplemented your income in the meantime?

4. Is this your first time being unemployed?

Keep the conversations short – no longer than three minutes – and be sure to provide basic details about the person you profile.

More troops in Afghanistan?

hhanks — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:17:26 GMT

After eight years, has the United States given enough in blood and treasure to defeat Al Qaeda and establish a new government in Afghanistan? In a document obtained by the Washington Post, the man in charge of the war, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, says we have 12 months to get more boots on the ground – thousands more – or the U.S. faces “failure.” As the British government rethinks its commitment to Afghanistan and Italy buries six of its soldiers killed there, public sentiment in coalition countries and the U.S. is slipping dramatically. What do you think? Is it time for a full U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan or send in more troops? What do you think the U.S. should do next? Share your thoughts on video. We'll share some of them on air in the CNN Newsroom, 11am-1pm ET.

A vegetarian Thanksgiving

katie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:26:16 GMT

The turkey is the star of a Thanksgiving meal. Whether deep fried, slathered in gravy or stuffed, about 46 million turkeys are eaten on the holiday.

Meanwhile, vegetarians have to get creative in lieu of poultry.

Do you have an all-vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner? What do you put as the centerpiece? Even if you’re not a vegetarian, what do you cook for guests who don’t eat meat?

Share your pictures and recipes of your favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving centerpieces and side dishes.