Orderly organization on the front page allows users to choose from stories not on the front page. It requires planning and following through with regularity. This one touts a variety of information, probably something that would not be available in The Ranger Online.
What should be in this module? It depends on your plan. Should BLOTTER be one? What about MULTIMEDIA? What about FEATURES or something from other programs in the department, KSYM, for example, or Digital Design?
Is this overkill? Would users see these options better this way than sections at the top of the page? Are both possible?
Here are three more examples.
This one would be a SPOTLIGHT, and it would include features from all sections. That would require planning features each week. It also could include Viewpoints or Blogs.
This one just touts inside stories and it is a SPOTLIGHT. It does not rotate, but it could be updated from time to time.
Lots of choices. Do a bit of testing to see which works with a focus group, perhaps. Good luck on finding the right one for your audience.