TMU 5(22) -- September 30, 2008

DebateWatch: Round One
Students and Faculty Participate

Adam Tyma and Mary Anna Kidd were interviewed by channels 7 and 42 during coverage of the first presidential DebateWatch Sept. 26 at the Milo Bail Student Center. KETV had a live shot from inside the meeting to lead their 10 p.m. newscast.

Barb Pickering organized students and faculty in facilitated discussions and data collection following the viewing of the first debate.

The Civic Participation Program sponsored the event. More than 100 people participated on a Friday night -- including about eight School of Communication faculty members. We again attracted local media attention and engaged students and the community in the presidential election process.

Pickering, Tyma and Kidd were joined by School of Communication faculty members. These facilitators worked in focus group discussions after the debate: Ana Cruz, Mary Anna Kidd, Teresa Lamsam, Lynnette Leonard, Holly Miller and Karen Weber. Rita Shaughnessy, Shereen Bingham, Jeremy Lipschultz and Deborah Smith-Howell also attended the event.

Omaha residents voiced their opinions on the issues after viewing the debate on C-SPAN.

The next DebateWatch event is the vice presidential contest on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Thompson Alumni Center. The vice-presidential debate will focus on both domestic and foreign policy. Parking will be available at the Alumni Center.

The Commission on Presidential Debates and the National Communication Association are sponsors of DebateWatch 2008. UNO is one of the 123 universities participating in the project. Students who participate in DebateWatch have shown an increased knowledge of political issues, and are more likely to vote, especially when participating in discussion groups that include people of all ages.

Second Life Demo
Leonard Shows Techniques to Teachers

Lynnette Leonard and her collaborators at universities in Michigan and Maine demonstrated the School of Communication Second Life classroom to faculty members Sept. 25. The session at the Milo Bail Student Center focused on the pedagogical potential of immersive online environments.

Adam Tyma and Jeremy Lipschultz joined the virtual session by logging into Second Life from their laptop computers and having their avatars, which are computer likenesses, appear with Leonard’s in Second Life. Conference attendees could see what was happening in Second Life while Leonard explained it.

UNO is among an elite group of campuses using Second Life to teach computer-mediated communication.

Speech Center At A Glance
Davidson to Highlight Functions

Marlina Davidson is one of three faculty members who will highlight UNO’s Math-Science, Speech and Writing Centers next month.

The UNO centers help students and faculty with assignments, presentations, and papers.

“UNO Centers at a Glance” will be held Monday, Oct. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Council Room.

The program is sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development.

Davidson is an instructor and Speech Center consulting coordinator in the School of Communication. The Speech Center was established in 2004 with Excellence Funding from the University of Nebraska.

The workshop will address: Student Support (tutoring, study groups, supplemental instruction, peer mentoring); Collaboration with faculty and other campus units with related missions; Assessment of science education effectiveness; UNO’s “Speaking Across the Curriculum” Program and the Speech Center, Basic Course Room and Speech Consulting Room; and the Writing Center's individual consultations and writing workshops.

To register, contact the Center for Faculty Development at 554-2427 or unofacdev@unomaha.edu . All those interested are invited to bring their lunch. Desserts and drinks will be provided. For more opportunities see the Center for Faculty Development or FacConnect: www.unomaha.edu/facdevelop or www.unomaha.edu/facconnect.

Of Note
Excellence in Action

Teresa Lamsam was asked by Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray to participate as a member of a three-person editorial board for the nation's monthly newspaper. Lamsam established The Osage Nation News and also founded a publications board, which is what led her to graduate school. Now, things have come full circle. Congress must confirm the appointment.

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Alumna Angie Miller has joined the firm of Lamson, Dugan, and Murray (www.ldmlaw.com). She has been working there since her first year of law school and loves the people and the work. Miller recently updated Shereen Bingham on her professional accomplishments.

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Dean Gail F. Baker participated Sept. 23 in a panel discussion with the pre-tenure mentoring group at UNO. Ana Cruz attended the meeting, which was organized by Barb Pickering.

Faculty members learned about university guidelines for promotion, portfolio expectations and the steps in the process.

On Friday, the School of Communication held a follow-up meeting with tenure-track faculty members. Shereen Bingham, Mike Hilt, Barb Pickering and Jeremy Lipschultz discussed procedures with Ana Cruz, Cynthia Robinson-Moore, Lynnette Leonard and Robert Franklin. An earlier session was held to mentor instructors Abbie Syrek, Marlina Davidson and Courtney Fristoe.

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Mike Whye published Thursday a guest opinion Omaha World-Herald article on the topic of public art in Council Bluffs.

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Courtney Fristoe gave a presentation to the University of Nebraska Foundation Ambassadors Sept. 26. The speech covered small talk and listening skills to help better equip the student representatives at social events.

Did You Know?
People in the News

Hugh Reilly published an article in UNO Alum about legendary UNO sports announcer Terry Forsberg.

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The UNO School of Communication is sponsoring a distinguished lecture at the Omaha Press Club. Loren Ghiglione, Northwestern University, will speak Monday, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the OPC about his new book, CBS's Don Hollenbeck: An Honest Reporter in the Age of McCarthyism. Ghiglione is the Richard A. Schwarzlose Professor of Media Ethics at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Tickets for lunch and the program are $12. Please contact School of Communication Director Jeremy Lipschultz at 203-7247 or jlipschultz@mail.unomaha.edu for reservations.

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Bruce Johansen will debate UNO Chemistry Professor Robert Smith on global warming at the Omaha Press Club Nov. 20. Hugh Cowdin is organizing the event.

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The North Omaha Media Alliance (NOMA), a Civic Participation Program and Service Learning Academy collaboration between the School of Communication, Girls Inc. and Omaha North High, will attend a screening of 18 in '08, a new documentary directed and produced by 19-year-old David D. Burstein of Weston, Conn. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Collaborating Commons, inside the new College of Public Affairs and Community (CPACS) Building. This is part of Democracy Matters: Building Social Capital Through Public Dialogue, a new, monthly series of community forums, debates and guest lectures hosted by CPACS and UNO.

Footnotes
Evidence of Excellence

1. Katie Kassebaum, marketing director, Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America, spoke to class Sept. 23 about how the Boy Scouts handled the weather related tragedy at Little Sioux Camp. A tornado killed four Scouts at the Little Sioux Camp in June. The Boy Scouts followed the PRSA Code of Ethics in dealing with the families, the media and the public in the aftermath of the tragedy. The UNO PRSSA chapter, Maverick PR, the School of Communication and its PR Case Studies class sponsored the event as part of September PRSSA Ethics Month.

La Notte Italiana
PRSSA Fundraiser Tickets on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for Italian Night PRSSA benefit dinner.

La Notte Italiana, the annual benefit dinner sponsored by the UNO chapter of PRSSA, will be held Sunday, Oct. 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Swanson Hall of Durham Museum.

The dinner features authentic Italian cuisine from more than 20 local restaurants. This year the event will include live music and a silent auction. All proceeds help the chapter pay for student travel, competitions, service projects and special events – including the School of Communication Graduation Breakfast.

Tickets cost $25 for adults; $15 for students; and $5 for children under 12. They can be purchased through Karen Weber, PRSSA faculty adviser, in ASH 140-E, a PRSSA member or at the door. For more information, contact Weber at 554-2246 or kweber@unomaha.edu.

The Week In Photos
Images from Around the School

Tom Becka and Clear Channel's Taylor Walet spoke to the Media Management class last week at KFAB.

The Omaha World-Herald was among employers at the UNO Job Fair.

Ana Cruz was shown on the cover of this national brochure.

Dates & Times
Mark Calendars for Interesting Events

October
2 – DebateWatch: V.P. candidates, Thompson Alumni Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

3 – Blackboard Grade Center training, ASH 110, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

4 & 5 – UNO Forensics @ Hastings College.

5 - Sunday, Oct. 5: La Notte Italiana (Italian Night fund raiser dinner), Swanson Hall, Durham Museum, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

7 – DebateWatch: Presidential candidates, Thompson Alumni Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

8 – Convocation at SPAC, 10 a.m.
CPACS Dedication, 11 a.m.
Centennial Reception, 12 p.m.

9 - HPER Groundbreaking, 10 a.m.

10 - CPACS Open House, 3 p.m.
Centennial BBQ, 6 p.m.

11 - Centennial Homecoming Open House Tailgate at 10:30 a.m.
Homecoming Football, 1 p.m.

15 – DebateWatch: Presidential candidates, Thompson Alumni Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

17 - School of Communication students will be partnered on Friday, October 17 with students from Tulane, Florida State, Iowa, Missouri and St. Louis University for a day with Omaha investor and billionaire Warren Buffett.

20 – Northwestern University Professor Loren Ghiglione luncheon, Omaha Press Club, 11:30 a.m..

22 - Illinois-Chicago Professor Steven Jones meets with students online in Second Life.

24 - Friday, Oct. 24 to Tuesday, Oct. 28 National PRSSA Conference in Detroit.

30 - Thursday, Oct. 30 Halloween Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

November
4 – The Omaha News election special, TKN Cox 17/Qwest 74, 7 p.m.

15 & 16 – UNO Forensics @ Doane College.

20 - Thursday, Nov. 20 Thanksgiving Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

December
5 – Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy will officiate at the CPM graduation on Dec. 5 at the new CPACS building on campus at UNO, 4 -6 p.m.

2009
January
15 - High School Journalism Dinner, 6-9 p.m. at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room.

February
12 - Thursday, Feb. 12 Valentine's Day Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

26 - Thursday, Feb. 26, MBSC Nebraska Room Bateman team campaign event for National Banking Association College Program 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March
12 - Thursday, March 12, MBSC Nebraska Room One-Five-0 and in Control Alcohol Awareness event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

31 - Thursday, March 31, MBSC Dodge Room Communication Career Development Workshop 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April
23 - High School Journalism Workshop, 12 p.m. at the MBSC Ballroom.
28 - PRSSA Presentations, 4 p.m. at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room.
30 - 10 a.m. Scholarship Breakfast at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room; 5th Annual Alumni Panel at 1 p.m. at the MBSC Dodge Rooms); 54th Annual Awards Banquet, 6 p.m. at the Thompson Alumni Center.

May
8 - Friday, May 8, at the MBSC Ballroom School of Communication Graduation Breakfast 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.