CAMPUS

Communications students look over the shoulder of community professionals
Lizzie Locker
Managing Editor
spectator@muw.edu

Communications majors at the W had a rare chance last Wednesday to see community professionals in action as part of a shadowing program called “Over the Shoulder Day.”

Students who participated in “Over the Shoulder Day” were granted an informal half-day internship at a local business or agency dealing with public relations or a media outlet of such. Students “went to work” on Wednesday morning and shadowed an individual to gain an idea of what a job in their chosen field actually entails.

The agencies who participated in the project, such as WCBI Channel 4, the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, the MUW Office of Public Affairs and the Cumulus radio station are all members of the Southern Public Relations Federation. Sophomore, junior and senior students at the W who are pursuing a major in communications were invited to take part in the program.

Joseph Burns, a senior communications major, interned at WCBI Channel 4. “When I walked in, it kind of felt like a class,” said Burns. “A guy was going around asking everybody what their story was for the day, and people were searching Google trying to find a story. It wasn’t what I expected.”

Burns shadowed Paulo Salazar, a reporter at Channel 4 News who was covering a story about how to avoid and treat cold and flu viruses called “What Works.” Burns and Salazar went to a local pharmacy to interview pharmacists on the subject and later walked around the mall asking passers-by what they were doing to avoid getting sick this year. Burns also got to see how interviews and video footage are edited into a one to two-minute “package” for television, including introductions, scenes and voiceovers. “It was interesting how little time it took to shoot the story,” said Burns. “I was surprised. I guess I thought it would take longer than it did.”

The opportunity to participate in “Over the Shoulder Day” has been offered annually for the last decade according to Dr. Van Roberts, professor of communications and head of MUW’s involvement in “Over the Shoulder Day.” Roberts is a firm believer in the benefits of participating in the program. “You can get a job through this,” he said. “It’s a way to get a legitimate reference.” Roberts listed instances of former students who took advantage of the mini-internship and landed jobs right out of college as a result of that one day’s experiences, whether with the agency they visited or somewhere else

Despite the many advantages that the program presents, Roberts says that it is extremely difficult getting students to sign up. “This is a golden opportunity, and I end up running around like an Apache Indian scalping people to get them to sign up.” Burns adds, “I think it’s a really good opportunity … to see what [you] could do in the future, and see if [you] really want to do that.” The chance is not gone forever, though. “Over the Shoulder Day” will come again next year, and Roberts hopes many more communications majors will take advantage of the chance.

Eat the soup – keep the bowl
Rachel Mordecki
Copy editor

On Oct. 3 of this year, MUW faculty, students and the community all pitched in to make 500 ceramic bowls for “Empty Bowls for Hunger,” which will take place this Saturday, Nov. 7. “Empty Bowls” is an event that raises funds for local and international charities to help alleviate hunger.  

The Y-Teens group made 56 bowls for the event, and on Oct. 10, students from Columbus High School contributed 32 more. On Oct. 16 and 17, the community was invited to make bowls and made 125 and 150, respectively.

Brandon Rice, a junior computer science major from Mississippi State, attended the first day open to the community. “It was a blast making bowls on the [pottery wheel]. It was really messy, but I would do it again if I had more time to get better at it.”

The rest of the 500 plus bowls were made by MUW faculty and art students. Al Holen, assistant professor of ceramics, was thrilled with the amount of people interested helping and attending the event. “I’m exhausted…it’s been a really big project, but the great part is having a studio full of people, introducing people to both clay and the art department and finding out there’s a lot of talented people in this community,” Holen said.

The community-made bowls will be on sale, served full of soup prepared by Chef Vicki Leach’s Food Prep I class, for $10. The proceedings will be split between the local Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen, a nonprofit organization that reaches out spiritually and materialistically to those in need, and Global Connections, which provides food for children in Africa.

 At the end of the day, patrons will be encouraged to take home their bowl to serve as a reminder that there are always empty bowls in the world, and that they helped feed someone in Columbus, or a child in Africa. “Empty Bowls for Hunger” will be held on the front lawn of the Shops at Brickerton this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.