End of January Weekly Update

Harrison Connect resumes its effort to connect people around Harrison Hall at JMU.

The School of Communication Studies has kicked off its Spring 2014 semester and it is already the end of January.

We are delighted to begin our SCOM weekly updates.

Here we go.

Harrison Connect: New Student with a directed project. 

Karen Kim, senior student concentrating in PR, is now managing Harrison Connect as well as the JMUSCOM Twitter account. Please follow her posts during this semester. Please email her at: kim2jy@dukes.jmu.edu if you would like to share anything through our Twitter account as well as the Harrison Connect blog.

Undergraduate Research: Papers are accepted!!

Eight students will present at the Eastern Communication Association conference. Please click here for more information.

Alumni Award 2014: Please nominate outstanding alumni for this award.

The winner will receive up to $1,000 for travel and accommodations in order to receive their award on our annual alumni day, which will be held in 2014 (Time and date T.B.A)

Nomination packets must include: a cover letter, two letters of support, and a resume or curriculum vitae. All materials should be submitted to the Assistant Director of Communication Studies at the following address:

Alumni Award c/o Dr. Toni Whitfield, SCOM Assistant Director

54 Bluestone Drive, MSC 2106 Harrisonburg, VA 22807

OR submit the package electronically to: whitfits@jmu.edu 

Speech Team: Off to a Good Start

The JMU Speech team traveled to Alexandria, VA to the campus of Northern Virginia Community College to compete in the Richard J. Ernst Speech Tournament.  The tournament featured teams from across the Commonwealth as well as teams from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  The individual results are as follows:

Day One:

  • Shelby Akins–7th Prose Interpretation
  • Jessie Bur–6th Poetry Interpretation, 4th Communication Analysis
  • Magdalene Dada–4th Poetry Interpretation
  • Tom Giordano–6th Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Armin Haracic–1st After Dinner Speaking
  • Zach Healy–1st Communication Analysis, 1st Duo Interpretation
  • Katie Lese–1st Duo Interpretation
  • Katrina Miles–4th Prose Interpretation
  • Nathan Selove–4th Persuasive Speaking, 5th Dramatic Interpretation

3rd Overall Team.

Day Two:

  • Shelby Akins–2nd After Dinner Speaking (now qualified for the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament to be held in April at Arizona State University)
  • Jessie Bur–5th Informative Speaking, 6th Communication Analysis
  • Magdalene Dada–4th Poetry Interpretation
  • Abby Fiege–6th After Dinner Speaking
  • Armin Haracic–5th After Dinner Speaking
  • Zach Healy–1st Communication Analysis, 4th Duo Interpretation
  • Katie Lese–4th Duo Interpretation, 2nd Persuasive Speaking
  • Katrina Miles–2nd Poetry Interpretation
  • Nathan Selove–1st Persuasive Speaking

Third Overall Team Sweeps

Every member on the JMU Speech team advanced to a final round this weekend; a well deserved honor for the hard working members.  After a much needed weekend off, the team coached by Lee Mayfield and Alyssa Reid, will host the ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ Speech Tournament on our campus the weekend of February 8-9.

Debate Team: Madison Cup is coming SOON

This year’s Madison Cup is now set for the 14th annual “James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum” on Thursday, April 17th, 2014.

The James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum is a unique inter-collegiate debate competition, combining the excitement and challenge of a tournament competition with the participation and empowerment of a public audience.

The funding is supported by the Rupe Foundation, which will provide competition prize money for: the top ten teams and the top twelve debaters. Three teams will qualify for travel stipends.

2014 Topic: This house believes that warrantless electronic surveillance by the U.S. Government has done more harm than good.

Other cool and unique features include:

*$30,000.00 in prize money
*Debating and competing in front of a public audience
*No entry fees
*Continental breakfast, snacks and lunch provided
*Video web-cast of the final round
*Great PR for your debate program
*Madison Cup traveling trophy

Public Relations Student Society of America: Packed House

PRSSA JMU Chapter had its first meeting and an outstanding 102 students attended.

Their New York City agency visits are coming up in February.

The chapter will also elect its new leadership team members on Monday.

 

Eight SCOM students present at the Eastern Communication Association Confernece

 

Even though we have had pretty cold weather in this semester so far, the weather did not bother School of Communication Studies at all. SCOM began the semester with a good news.

Eight students will present at the Eastern Communication Association, which will be held in Providence, R.I. from April 23 to April 27.

It is still early, but, please feel free to leave your messages of congratulations to the authors here.

Those papers are:

“Who are You? Developing and Managing Identity in Different Contexts of Student Life” 

Christine Anzur, Samantha Kempter, Caitlin Kennedy, and Katherine Leeds.

“Flirtation on Social Networking Sites: A Competitive Paper Presentation”

Stefanie Leshner, Elissa Smith, Kara Stucklen, and Neal Sweeney.

There are certainly more deadlines for conferences coming up. Please check SCOM website or HERE for more information.

Well, Congratulations, all SCOM students who are presenting at the ECA conference this year!!