Day in the life at Coker College

Presentations began today in the Communication Senior Seminar and Kimberly chose the first day.

The softball team played its last home game at Coker; the final home game for senior players.

The Language, Literature and Communication Honor Societies had their induction dinner and here Dr. Cuppett is with a few members of that society.

The Poetry Slam was a hit event in the Cobra Den. And that doesn't count so many other happenings like Emily's Senior Show in the Coker Art Gallery, the persuasive speeches in Com 101, the Outdoor Education trip to Myrtle Beach. And, it is the end of the semester and there is still LOTS of work to be accomplished.

Advanced public speakers thinking SUN

We are working on persuasion as the goal for most of the speeches in Advanced Public Speaking this semester. Today we had a little convergence of topics -- maybe because the speakers knew the temperatures today would be the mid-90s and people would have their minds on the sun.

So, one of the speakers persuades the audience to forget about the sun totally -- it causes really bad cancer. He is followed a speaker or two later by the message that you really have to live life on the edge and among the things you might do to create memories would be a fun skinny dip and then maybe later laying out in the sun without the benefit of sunscreen. Two lifetime memories she said.

A third speaker urged that every one take full advantage of the sun but be sure you wear sunscreen -- not tanning lotion.

Seemed like it would be appropriate to mention that as I see some facebook messages from people who a) either spent too much time in today's sun; or b) ignored the advice about the sunscreen.

Coker Communication Seminar Students hear from Television News Anchor

Rusty Ray, the morning news anchor from WBTW -- Myrtle Beach and Florence, was on the campus of Coker College Monday morning to share some thoughts about a communication career with members of the Communication Senior Seminar. One section of this seminar is something I call "Fridays with Morrie." Sometimes we do this segment on days other than Friday but it is an opportunity for students to get some life lessons from people with whom they don't normally interact. Rusty Ray, who has talked with my media writing classes on occasion, drove up from Myrtle Beach to join us for a Monday/Morrie segment. First -- thanks to Rusty for making this trip.
WHAT DID HE COVER?
Next, the students got to hear from someone who has now been in the broadcasting business since 2002, soon after his graduation from the journalism program at the University of Maryland. Next, the students got to hear from someone who is rapidly approaching his 30th birthday and who find that he is viewing life differently than he did at 22 or 23. Rusty covered a bit about the world of journalism, a bit about the world of a television reporter and a bit of living and learning. I am never certain what the students learn but these are valuable class periods for the professor, reconfirming for me why it is important for students to get information from beyond the classroom walls.
EXAMPLES OF SOME IDEAS
What was Rusty's first idea? He told the students what it was like for him finding a job back in 2002. "I sent out 45 tapes of my work, I did not get one response." We discuss the idea that finding a job is often the most difficult job you will have and this was a first-hand view of that concept. He also mentioned how the economy had affected the news room and the numbers of jobs lost in 2009. But, the TV-13 morning news anchor also had some good news about things in the economy. He said it appears that things are turning a corner and that there may be more hiring in the coming months.

I really enjoy these "Morrie" class segments; and my hope is the students get as much from them as I do.