Category Archives: Uncategorized

Aug 26 2016
General, Uncategorized

There’s No Debate About It. Communication Students Have Once in a Lifetime Opportunity.

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by Hannah Hanson

As the fall 2016 semester starts, one thing on the minds of students, faculty, and the Farmville community is the Vice Presidential Debate set for Tuesday, October 4. Students that have volunteered for the debate have been anxiously waiting and have finally received their placements.

Macrae Hammond, the Special Assistant to the VP of Strategic Operations at Longwood University, has placed all the students that have volunteered. According to Hammond around 100 Communication Studies students have volunteered; which is about 20% of the student volunteers. A majority of these students got placed with several recognizable media outlets as well. This experience is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students here at Longwood.

Michael Castanon, a senior with a public relations concentration, was placed volunteering with Twitter. As an active tweeter, Castanon is very excited to get “real world experience standing in with Twitter because it is such an important tool of public relations in our society today”. Castanon explained how he was influenced to volunteer for the debate because “It is an opportunity that most other students at other colleges won’t get to experience.

Ally Werner another senior with a public relations concentration, is thrilled that she will be working with CNN representatives for the debate. When asked how Werner thought her COMMunity has prepared her for her upcoming role she replied, “Communication has boosted my confidence, in a way, because they force you to step out of your comfort zone.” Werner was influenced to volunteer for the debate because of her internship working on Capitol Hill this summer. Werner obtained real world experience working with politicians and how they delivered their message to the media. Now with this opportunity she will get to examine how media portrays the messages they receive and how the media develops it for the public.

Current Editor-in-Chief of the Rotunda and digital media concentration, Halle Parker, was selected to volunteer with FOX News during the debate. Parker volunteered for the debate to have coverage of the event for the Rotunda as well. Parker believes her major has developed her communication skills all around which will be helpful as she helps FOX get acquainted with the Longwood Community.

These are only a few of the Communication Studies students that will be participating in the Vice Presidential debate. As the big day gets closer, Longwood’s anticipation grows. The eyes of America will be on our campus and we could not be more excited to show off our school and the Farmville Community.

 

Tagged
Nov 16 2015
General, PRSSA, Uncategorized

Longwood PRSSA Attends National Conference

PRSSA group

On November 6th 2015, the annual PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) National Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia. As an active chapter of the PRSSA, Longwood University was able to offer some of its PRSSA members the opportunity to attend the four day conference.

PRSSA speakerThe PRSSA National Conference gives all PRSSA representatives the chance to hear from the nations most prominent PR organisations and companies. With Longwood Communication Studies Assistant Professor Dr. Alec R. Hosterman in attendance the students were also given a strong platform to network with experts and colleagues in the PR field.

“The conference was a unique opportunity to meet other students, and network with communication professionals.”
– Ben Stembridge, Longwood’s PRSSA President
 

Head of PR for Coca-Cola North America, Scott Williamson was the keynote speaker at the conference. Williamson has over 23 years of PR experience and has overseen a majority of Coca-Cola’s PR campaigns. Williamson spoke to those in attendance about his personal rules for success in Public Relations and was one of the many speakers the students were able to see at this years conference.

PRSSA Coke

The trip wasn’t all business for the students and they were able to take some time out to explore Atlanta before returning to Longwood. The Longwood students were able to visit Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola building, which gave them the opportunity to look at Coca-Cola’s history, successful advertising campaigns and other pop culture memorabilia.

The students also went on the Inside CNN Studio Tour, where they got a close look at CNN Studios in Atlanta. The tour includes a look at how CNN puts together a news broadcast, behind the scenes look at a newsroom, and how a professional news studio operates.

“Attending the sessions throughout the conference was a really good opportunity for students to see how their education is being put in to practice.”
– Dr. Alec R. Hosterman, Communication Studies Assistant Professor
 

Anyone who has an an interest in Public Relations can join Longwood University’s PRSSA chapter. If you want to get a feel of the PRSSA chapter all majors are welcome to sit in on one of their weekly meetings that are held at 4pm in CSTAC 205 on Tuesday afternoons.

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Mar 27 2015
Uncategorized

The COMM WAR

On April 7 from 3-5 p.m. the COMM War will commence. Come out and donate canned foods to your favorite concentration, Mass media, or Public Relations. There will be music, dancing, COMMunity, and a ton of fun! Check out the above podcast for more info!

Mar 24 2015
Professional Resources, Uncategorized

Time for a New Nest: Looking for Your Post-Grad Home

The nest, i.e your parents house, has been a comfortable dwelling for over 20 years at this point, and as much as you would like to stay, sometimes that shiny new job requires your immediate relocation.  Stepping onto the pavement with your trunk filled with everything you have collected, well everything that is important, you ask yourself where do I start?  This post will give advice how to begin the housing search, what to do about a roommate, what to look for in a neighborhood, and how to finalize the rental process.

Simply Put, Budget

This is the most important aspect of beginning the rental search.  Now that you know what you are going to be making at your new job, or a least a general idea, you can use that as a basis for what ballpark your monthly rent should be in.  An article from Rent.com, Budget 101: Determining Your Rent Budget, explains “…You should spend no more than one-third of your income on rent per year.”  Of course, if you able to spend less than that the better.

Once you have how much you would spend on rent, factor in your day-to-day costs.  Laura Shin, in her article How to Budget Your Money With the 50/20/30 Guideline, it is important to leave about 30% of your pay aside for purchases like groceries, shopping, and things of that nature.  These two factors will help you determine if you can afford to live in an area before you move there.  The question that must be addressed is if you would be willing to live with someone for lower cost, or have the place to yourself.

Roommates

We have been dealing with roommates for some, if not all of our college career.  This begs the question, would you want to continue that trend to save money on rent?  Of course we will all sacrifice certain desires for the sake of a dollar, but will a roommate in your adulthood prove to be beneficial not only financially but for our well being?  Whether you have someone in mind or are willing to live with a random roommate you have to put your security and sanity above it all.  Trent Hamm advises that you should vet any potential roommates before allowing anyone in your home, because safety is number one.  If the financial burden of living by yourself is too much, and you are lucky to find a respectable individual to room with, than a roommate is a great option!

Finding the Right Neighborhood

Now that you have an idea of what you will able to afford and if/who you are rooming with, now you have find the right location.  Niccole Schreck claims in her article A Guide for Renting Your First Apartment, “You should feel safe and happy in your neighborhood.”  That being said, there are factors that some may not considered until they realize it is a problem with their current place of residency.  Liz Gray, in the article How to Choose a Neighborhood, states that you should ask yourself questions such as what is the proximity to your job, accessibility to shopping and activities, and overall atmosphere of the area.  Your daily commute is going to be one of the biggest factors with your new place, but you cannot neglect aspects that will contribute to you well being.  Be sure to investigate gyms, social groups and settings, and other activities.  These will provide you with opportunities to get away from the stresses of work and make you more comfortable with the area.

Read and Understand Your Lease

This is the critical phase of the housing search and should be done so with caution and care.  Niccole Schreck explains, “When you find a great apartment, you may be tempted to just go ahead and sign, but not carefully reading your apartment lease can lead to trouble down the road.”  If you are not on the same page as your landlord, once the document is signed it is difficult to get out of.  Scheck goes on to state how you should understand items in the lease such as what is prohibited, who maintains the property, etc.  There is nothing wrong with bringing in someone to look over the lease with you, in order to have two sets of eyes to prevent misinterpretation.

The moving our process can be overwhelming, but, just like every other aspect of post grad life, do your research and remain calm.  Stay within your budget and look for areas near your job that fit your lifestyle.  Happy home hunting and good luck!

 

Mar 20 2015
Uncategorized

Hate Speech vs. Freedom of speech

Headlines across the country have been full of freedom of speech concerns over the past few weeks. Most notoriously, the situation at the University of Oklahoma with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

On March 9, the day after the video was released, OU’s President David Boren acted swiftly–knocking the fraternity off campus, closing down its campus house, and halting its affiliation with the university.

Two SAE members were expelled from the University, and people began questioning their right to freedom of expression. An ethical dilemma of sort has arose and many believe the students expelled would indeed win in a court of law if they sued the university. But is that just ?

Is freedom of speech sacred when it comes to speech such as this? That’s the question people are asking.

Longwood

At Longwood a similar, but also very different situation arose on the exact same day.

In Curry Hall, a residence hall totally incumbent of freshman, one of the bulletin boards of the sixth floor was decorated asking students to express themselves–voice any concerns they had, and raise awareness of any issues.

When students arrived back on campus after spring break, there were multiple racially derogatory comments on the board.

Longwood Police immediately opened an investigation into the incident, and according to the 2014-2015 Longwood student handbook, students would be disciplined for such statements. But a lot of people might agree that they shouldn’t be, and if they were, would they be able to overturn a decision based strictly on their first amendment rights?

Contrasting of situations

One of the most prevalent contrasts between the two issues is that at OU, the students were in a comfortable area, (so they thought) that was constricted (so they thought) and around friends (so they thought). They probably didn’t expect to be on a video that circulated the country, much less have their faces attached to the statements they were making.

The Longwood situation is different in this aspect. Whoever chose to write the bulletin board remarks, did it in a public forum for everyone to see. But they also probably realized they would never have to show their face because they did it anonymously and there are no security cameras on any Curry floor.

Going forward

Now we want to hear from you. What do you think? Should students in either situation be expelled from school if they are found guilty of hate speech? Is their right to derogatory speech protected by the first amendment?

Also, post your comments and thoughts on Facebook at Longwood University Communication Studies and Twitter @LU_COMM.

Remember, we are Comm studies, and this is what we do.

Mar 19 2015
Professional Resources, Uncategorized

First Job – Check! Time to Fit In

There may be a thousand thoughts racing through your head once you hear that someone in the professional world wants your skill set, and that is completely normal! Being offered a job position evokes emotions that only some of the best movies have the ability to do.  A major question many of us have is “Will I fit in?”  Even though you have researched the company culture and understand that their values are in line with yours, this does not mean that your co-workers will automatically be your best friend. This post will provide you with a few tips on how to assimilate in your new job and make it enjoyable, but productive, between the hours of 9 and 5.

Be Ready, the Interview May be Over But…

At this point you have won over your employer, which is why you are at this stage in the game, however, your co-workers are a separate entity.  This are the men and women you will be collaborating with, consulting with, and talking with every single day. When they see a fresh face in the office, they are going to want to get to know the new member of the team.  Be ready for questions.  Jacquelyn Smith with Business Insider explains that you should be ready to answer questions regarding who you are, where you have come from, and what you will doing with the company.  This does not mean you have to be scripted, because this could come off as impersonal, just have and understanding of what you will tell people when the ask.  A great way to get to know co-workers and vis-a-versa is to go to lunch.

Eat, Drink and Be…Informed

The old saying goes “eat, drink and be merry,” yet dinning can be your door to fitting in with the rest of the office. Ritika Trikha with US News and Money states, “Always say yes to lunch[!]”  First off, saying no is not only rude, but it would automatically put you at the bottom of the social totem pole.  Use lunch as an opportunity to get the scoop on the office culture.  Hearing their input in a more relaxed setting will give you the most honest feedback on what is expected and what is acceptable.  Conversation, whether at lunch or at the water cooler, could take a turn away from culture to gossip. Dawn Rosenberg McKay, a Career Planning Expert, states “Pay attention to the office grapevine, but don’t contribute to it.”  Since you are new, participating in gossip will only set you against a co-worker.  Instead of gossip, keep the conversation on why you belong there.

Prove You Belong

Finally, remember why you are there: To work.  You were hired for a reason and now you have to show them that you were hired for the right reasons.  Dharmesh Shah, Founder and CTO of Hubspot, explains you should “Spot the high performers and mimic them.” Going above and beyond what is expected will not only grab attention from your co-workers, but also your higher-ups.  Jenna Goudreau, with Business Insider, advises that you should live up to the expectations you set for yourself when you were hired.  Lastly, Dawn Rosenberg McKay says to “…Arrive to work early and don’t rush out the door…”  Show everyone that you are dedicated and will do what it takes to get the job done.

There is no formula that explains the best way to fit in at your new job.  Instead, there are only tips that will give you a heads up on what to expect.  At the end of the day, be the employee they hired you to be and give 100% effort at your new position.  If that is all you do, you will soon find yourself fitting in and cruising up the ranks.

 

Feb 18 2015
Podcasts, Uncategorized

The Essence of Free Speech

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The Constitution of the United States

This is a powerful statement developed by the Founding Father of the United States.  This is the major foundation for the professions of journalism and public relations; however, we pose the question: How free are we to speak what is on our mind?  The belief that we are able to speak our truths free with no repercussions seems idealistic.  But as Scott Bacon claimed in the podcast above, “There are legitimate arguments for and against, depending on the scenario but…in general it’s obviously one of the bedrocks of this country.”  However, today there are ever rising questions about the full extent to which we are able to speak our minds.

Defamation

Freedom of Speech allows us to communicate our ideas without the threat of being persecuted if someone disagrees.  However, as pointed out in the podcast above, there are multiple grey areas that exist, such as malicious intent as Scott Bacon claimed.  There are a multitude of instances where men and women use freedom of speech to bring down other individuals, but that does not mean it is against the law.  For example, the groundbreaking case of New York Times v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court created the malice standard.  The malice standard is a set of criteria that an article of the press must possess before it can be deemed actual malice and defamation. This means there is some leeway with words before they can be considered defaming or intended for malicious purposes.  This does not mean that your publics, or target, will appreciate what you have said, it just means that you cannot be legally prosecuted.  These are instances in the United States in which free speech has run into question, however, international acceptance of freedom of speech is a much different, and at times troubling, story.

International Acceptance?

The idea of freedom of speech is by no means an international standard.  Violence has, at times, erupted in other countries on the varying interpretations of freedom of speech. Recently, there was an attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in France.  According to Cristina Silva with the International Business Times, the magazine is known for pushing, yet remaining within, the limits of freedom of speech/expression with their cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.  The attack was orchestrated and carried out by a group of individuals who were offended at, what they believed to be, sacrilegious depictions of their Prophet.  Yet this is not the first time in history where a group of individuals took offense to someones published opinion.

Salman Rushdie published a novel called “The Satanic Verses,” which angered the Muslim community.  The controversy brought about multiple attacks; and, according to Todd Green with the Huffinton Post, Rushdie was placed under a fatwa, or sentenced to death.  Rushdie, for his work of fiction was forced into hiding to avoid death.  Even though many countries recognize the freedom of opinion and the ability to freely state that opinion, there are still many who will deem an opinion unfit for the public and attempt to silence.

Where do We Stand?

Freedom of speech is a human right, however, we have discussed this issue on a federal and global scale, but how does this right hold up on a college campus?  We will explore this issue and examine how the idea of freedom of speech on a college campus holds up in comparison to what we explored today.

This issue is a critical one, and it constantly under the microscope.  However, it is up to us to never allow ourselves to be silenced simply because have a differing opinion. We must self regulate and respect the men and women surrounding us.  Do not use your freedom to offend, oppress or harm.  Instead, use your words to enlighten, inform and protect, for if we are able to do this, our freedom will continue to exist.

Lastly, we would like to send our thanks to Scott Bacon for taking the time to participate in this conversation, and remember to leave your comments or questions regarding this topic in the comments section.

We are comm studies, and this is what we do.

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