Mars Hoax and Media Literacy

Media Literacy is a major component of the Mass Communication, Culture and Media Literacy class that I teach as an entry into the Coker College Communication major. Today, Frank Baker, a South Carolinian and Media Literacy maven distributed a Yahoo news story about the Mars Hoax that is now circulating around the internet - AGAIN. Here is a short piece of that article:

Mars Hoax Circulates: 'Big as the Moon!'
Wed May 20, 3:51 pm ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090520/sc_space/marshoaxcirculatesbigasthemoon

Once again it appears that a Mars hoax that has widely circulated through the Internet since its first appearance during the summer of 2004 has begun to circulate yet again. It comes in the form of an e-mail message titled "Mars Spectacular," which originated from an unknown source.

In turn, this message has gotten passed on to others who couldn't resist forwarding it to their entire address book.

The e-mail declares that on the night of Aug. 27, the planet Mars will come closer to Earth than it has in the past 60,000 years, thereby offering spectacular views of the Red Planet. The commentary even proclaims, with liberal use of exclamation marks, that Mars will appear as bright as (or as large as) the full moon.

The problem is that "Aug. 27" is actually Aug. 27, 2003. Mars made a historically close pass by Earth that night (34.6 million miles, or 55.7 million km). The Hubble Space Telescope used the opportunity to make a great photo of Mars. But even then, to the naked eye Mars appeared as nothing more than an extremely bright yellowis

This year, Mars is actually much dimmer and far-less conspicuous than in 2003. (end of snippet)

You can see why we need to demonstrate the idea of media literacy because when so much misinformation circulates it takes time we should be using for some more real information. Anyway, this is one concept we talk quite a bit about Mass Communication, which is being offered in the Fall Semester 2009 at Coker.

Coker Grad Headlining Iris Festival in Sumter, SC

Becki McLeod entertained Coker College audiences in several performances while a student on campus. My Google Alert just came up with an article showing that she is headling the Iris Festival in her hometown of Sumter, SC.


This is an excerpt from that article that talks about Becki McLeod, who now lives in Nashville, Tn. While I am not positive, I believe she was a Musical Theater major:

He said this year there are also many local bands or bands with local ties, like Becki McLeod, who grew up in Sumter and is headlining on Saturday.

McLeod said she is glad to have the chance to come and play for her hometown crowd.

"I'm just thrilled to come home and share what I've been doing with all these people," she said.

McLeod moved to Nashville, Tenn., about five years ago after graduating from Coker College in Hartsville, and though she said she comes home fairly often she doesn't get to really show her music off because she doesn't have her band with her.

"We don't get an opportunity to showcase what I've been doing for the last five years," McLeod said.

McLeod said she and the band play a wide variety of music, from country to classic rock to some of her original songs, which she hopes to play a bit of at the festival.

"People know my face and they know my name but (this is) actually getting them familiar with what my music is," she said.

McLeod and her band are the final act on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Garden Street Stage.

Leadership is so basic to success

Thinking a good deal about Leadership this week as I worked my way through THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP, by John C. Maxwell. This book was a gift from the Coker College Communication Senior Seminar class and it much appreciated and I will get a great deal of use from this book. Maybe the first use is this posting.

In the Communication Senior Seminar I borrowed some of the thinking of Steven Covey as conveyed in THE EIGHT HABIT and talked with the students about thinking now of the legacy they want to leave with the world. Covey's Eighth Habit, "find your voice and help other people find their voice." is a great way of thinking about your impact on the world. As the senior communication majors got ready to graduate, I thought that was of the important pieces of information to try conveying in the closing weeks of their final semester. It turns out the 21st Law of Leadership is "The Law of Legacy." Just now, in a Facebook posting, I thanked the seniors for the book and passed along Maxwell's last piece of leadership advice from the book, "Learn to lead -- not just for yourself but for the people who follow you." (Maxwell, page 268)

Leadership has been a part of my life for just about as long as I can remember. I continue working on learning leadership. One of my not well formed philosophies is that as a professor in the classroom my role is very much leadership -- at least as much as it is professorship.

And, leadership is a topic on my mind because Dr. Dawson, our president for the past seven years, is retiring and Dr. Robert Wyatt will be coming to Coker for his first college presidency. He has been leading a vibrant business department at Drury University and he has been preparing for a college presidency for the past couple of years. During his on-campus visit prior to getting the offer, he exemplified some leadership qualities by tackling some tough questions head on. I think is forthright approach to the discussion is one of the things that made some of my faculty colleagues react positively to his candidacy.

In another blog -- about community building and community thinking -- I also approached the concept of leadership because one non-profit _ New Vision Community Development Corporation just had the sneak grand opening of new cafe they will be using to help generate funds for their many programs. The leaders of that organization showed strong patience and persistence in finally getting their kitchen ready. Patience is not one of my leadership skills.

In teaching communication at Coker my consistent mantra is that communication is leadership and leadership is communication. Maxwell, in his first paragraph of the concluding chapter of his 21 laws book, says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." (Maxwell, p 267)

Saturday and all was not quiet on campus

Even during the school year Saturday mornings are dead on campus. You can often look in all directions and not see anyone at 8 in the morning. So, I was out on the bike and decided to go over by the office. Two people walking on the Coker campus checking to see where the Performing Arts Building was. One was auditioning for TheWandaProject. Found out later she and her mother drive from Birmingham, Alabama for the audition. It was long after that that several of the TWP dancers were on campus and getting ready for a full day of rehearsals. The company is touring in North and South Carolina this week.

I wasn't planning on staying long this first trip and as I slowly pedaled toward the front of the building ran into a mother, father and son who had an appointment at Admissions. Admission counselors working hard on Saturday. It was about two hours later and Ray, admissions, stopped by my office with a guy who is thinking of finishing his degree at Coker after getting his AA in Florida. The potential student is a potential baseball player, an outfielder who swings a good bat.

Not long after that Deb from the Theater Department was heading to the Music Department joining the search committee of Graham and Will looking for a new member of the music faculty.

Quite surprising to see so much going on during a beautiful Saturday May morning.

Coker Golf finishes season

This is certainly a short cut for a blog posting but the Coker Golf team just ended its season this week at the Regional NCAA Division II tourney. They had a strong season. They had a bad opening day at this tourney and though they moved up, they could not make up enough strokes to break the Top 10.


Coker Golf Finishes 11th at Regionals, Season Comes to an End
by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/6/2009
Florence, Ala. - The Coker College Golf Team's season came to an end Wednesday, as the Cobras placed in a tie for 11th place at the 2009 Southeast/South Super Regional Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals Course. Coker shot a team score of 291 (+3) in the third and final round giving them a three round total of 891 (+27), tying them with the University of West Florida.
The University of West Alabama was the overall winner, with a three day total of 868 (+4), followed by Lynn University at 869 (+5) and Barry University at 874 (+10). Joining those three schools at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship will be Columbus State University and Georgia College and State University, while Barton College's Jonathan Burke and Florida Southern University's Brian Richey will advance as individuals.
Coker was led by freshman Jared Crane (Greenville, SC) as he fired a five under par 67 in the final round to finish in a tie for sixth place overall, while Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) shot a 74 (+2). Diego Polo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) and Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) each shot 75 (+3) in the final round, with John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) rounding out the Coker five with a 80 (+8).
Coach Tommy Baker and the Cobras had an outstanding year, placing in the top five in 9 of 11 tournaments, including taking championship honors at three tournaments (Coker Intercollegiate, Tusculum Invitational and Carolina Sands Intercollegiate). With his entire team returning next season, Coach Baker has a lot to look forward to in the future for the Coker Golf program.
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Coker Graduated More than 180 Saturday

The campus is pretty quiet right this minute. Okay, so most people don't normally get to work until 8:30 or 9:00 but the real reason is the students are gone. We will pick up a little tomorrow afternoon when Term V of the Night School starts -- today it is quiet. Coker does an outdoor graduation in one of the most picturesque settings that I can imagine. Davidson Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus and our primary Liberal Arts classroom building is the backdrop for the impressive ceremony. (A photo will show that setting.) This 101st Coker graduation had a bit of a twist as the President of the College, B. James Dawson, served as the graduation speaker. This was sort of his valedictory address as he is retiring from Coker. Lots of smiles and some tears as the graduating seniors marked this crucial milestone in their learning lives or in their lives of learning. One conversational element that seemed even more prominent than ever at this year's graduation was the concept of how fast the year went. I know the years disappear for me but I was really surprised at how those graduating felt very much the same -- as did many of their parents.

Graduation on Saturday Morning

Coker College is holding is 101st graduation this morning and last minute preparations are in full swing. I can hear Cody rehearsing the STAR SPANGLED BANNER down in the practice room. Some people have already grabbed front-row seats and there is still almost two hours before graduation. The grounds crew, as usual, has the campus looking great. This is an outdoor graduation and it appears that we will have cloud cover that should make it very pleasant this morning.

This is Dr. Dawson's last graduation as he is retiring and Dr. Lois Gibson, an English professor, is also leaving after 31 years service to Coker. As all graduations, happy/sad time and another example of the the saying tempus fugit; it does not just fly, it disappears.