Monday

TMU 7(16) -- December 28, 2010

Chris Allen with Kabul U. faculty
Allen visits Kabul. Associate Professor Chris Allen found enthusiasm for a free press during his week visiting with journalism faculty at Kabul University.  His time in Kabul was designed as a needs assessment in the first phase of an exchange program between the UNO School of Communication and Kabul University's journalism program.  While in Kabul, Allen appeared on the KFAB Good Morning Show via a Skype computer call.







UNO faculty are designing curriculum to fit the journalism program in Kabul.  Allen learned that radio and television are rapidly developing in Afghanistan.  The School of Communication entered a partnership with UNO's International Studies and Kabul University. Allen posted his  impressions of Kabul on a blog site“If we can help Kabul University establish their journalism program to  the point where their graduates are making a serious contribution to a  free press, well, that’s something we (at UNO) can be very, very proud  of,” Allen told the Omaha World-HeraldFaculty  members from Kabul are expected to be on the UNO campus this spring.  This will be the first of three groups to visit UNO by the end of 2013.

UNO students raise money with Dodge Ball
Service-learning impact. The final group projects for two sections of  Assistant Professor  Paige Toller's small group communication and leadership classes were  to design and implement a fundraiser for the Siena Francis House, a local homeless shelter.  A celebration with a representative from the shelter was held Dec. 2.  Students raised approximately $2,700 for the shelter and collected over 200 cans of food and several large bags of clothing.  A total of 10 fundraisers were held, including a “Battle of the Big  Boys” dodge ball game between UNO football players and wrestlers; Rock our house for their house,” which was a concert featuring three local bands at Maloney’s Pub; a Hoops for the homeless” free-throw contest at a UNO women’s basketball game; “Hall-o-need” tailgating fundraiser at a UNO football game; a “Cooking out for a cause” event in front of the Milo Bail Student Center; “Hot Chocolate for the Homeless” on campus and at the Baker’s on 72nd and Military; a “Stuff the Truck” event in which students parked a U-Haul outside of Crossroads Mall and collected donations; and a Free concert at the Pizza Shoppe in Benson. 

Jeff Pulver and Jeremy Lipschultz
Excellence in actionJeff Pulver, president and CEO of Pulver.com, Inc., an Internet based consulting firm, returns to Omaha Jan. 14 to guest lecture in Jeremy Lipschultz's Media Regulation and Freedom course.  Pulver was a surprise speaker at the award-winning Omaha 10-10-10 conference in October.  Pulver.com, publishes research, produces trade shows and conferences and consults the telecommunications Industry. Pulver is a leading expert on streaming audio and video technologies.   Pulver is founder of the Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition, a not-for-profit group formed in 1996 to help keep the Internet Telephony Industry free from regulations.  Pulver succeeded in 2004 in convincing the Federal Communications Commission that Voice over IP (VoIP) technology should be unregulated.   Former FCC Chair Michael Powell called the decision the most important in terms of Internet development.  Pulver, co-founder of Vonage, is active in development of Twitter as a community-building resource.  Pulver's role in pioneering an industry has been compared to earlier computer efforts of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.  Pulver's 2 p.m. Mammel Hall talk is open to the public.


Renee Reding and Joan Lukas
Did you know?   Alumni Advisory Board Chair Joan Lukas met with School of Communication Director Jeremy Lipschultz and the Development and Grants Committee about efforts to raise alumni and community awareness about the University of Nebraska campaign.  Lukas, president of Leslie Kline Lukas, also has joined the UNO Alumni Board.  Communication has goals to become a named School and construct a state-of-the-art building.

Exclusive 2010 election coverage
Year in review.  The UNO School of Communication experienced its top year for national recognition in 2010.  The National Communication Association honored UNO with the NCA Program of Excellence Award for the top oral communication program in the nation.  Meanwhile, UNO Forensics had its first national champion. Cameron Logsdon won first place in oral interpretation, as the team had its first Top Ten finish at nationals in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  The School of Communication's PRSSA chapter received two national awards and four state PRSA awards in 2010.  The Lambda Pi Eta chapter also was recognized for its activities.  Broadcast students and faculty also won awards.



Photo gallery.

Mike Hilt and Barb Pickering at December Commencement

About 50 Communication graduates joined more than 900 across UNO












Events.  Alumni turned out for a reception prior to the first of two UNO Hockey games at Colorado College.  Alumnus Mike Moran  of Colorado Springs helped organize the event.


Photo courtesy B.J. Reed





January
13 -  High School Media Advisers' Dinner, MBSC, 6 p.m.
14  -  Jeff Pulver speaks to Media Regulation and Freedom students, UNO Mammel Hall, 2 p.m.

February
15  - Career Fair, MBSC Dodge A and B, 12-4 p.m.
22 -  UNO Forensics Fundraiser, Royal View Hall, TBA
25 -  UNO Communication Red Army Hockey Night, Qwest Center, 7 p.m.

March

 
April
2 - Dart Center Panel, Creighton University, 8 a.m.
9 - Regional PRSSA, Mammel Hall, TBA
14 - High School Media Conference, MBSC 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
25 - Communication Week
28
- Alumni Panel, 1 p.m.; 56th Annual Communication Awards Banquet, Thomson Alumni Center, 6 p.m.

May - UNO Commencement, TBA

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