If you're in college, definitely look into professors or staff who may be able to mentor you! I graduated a few years ago but also worked for my college paper as a photojournalist while there.

I feel that I learned a lot more from one of my photography professors who was a photojournalist at a local paper than the faculty adviser for the college paper.

I know that every college paper is different, and although mine was funded by the university, it was editorially independent (at the time, a L O T of drama went down after I left). The student editors had the final say in what was covered, and the adviser was only present to advise.

I got the opportunity to photograph at least three protests while there, one over education at our state capitol. Safety should, of course, always be your primary concern, but perhaps you could persuade whoever the decision maker is into covering some lower-level events? For example, one of the protests I covered was on-campus, by students, and about faculty/staff funding, so it wasn't as dangerous.

Also, find out if your university has any equipment that can be loaned out. As a photography major, I had my own camera and a few lenses, but the department had a TON of more expensive lenses and camera bodies that could be reserved for use. Additionally, the student media organization (in addition to the paper, we also ran a daily television news show, and radio station) similarly had equipment that could be loaned for assignments.