Ram Telegram

Monday December 5, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 1RAM TELEGRAM

Attending Texas Wesleyan University for her master’s of business administration degree and volunteering 26 years at Hangman’s House of Horror, Darla Robinson has been able to find two places close to her heart. Growing up in Fort Worth, Robinson said she chose Tex-as Wesleyan University for the smaller classes because “Smaller is better”. Earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Texas Christian University, Robinson said she quickly noticed she was not at the right school. “The classes were a little bit bigger than I thought I need-ed them to be,” she said. Donating the majority of her time to school and volun-teer hours, Robinson said the people involved in her every day life soon became more than just casual acquaintance. They’ve become family. “It’s family,” Robinson said.

“It’s not just a haunted house. It truly has purpose. We live life, and we live it together, every August, September, October and November. It’s a labor of love for us”. Having a passion for Hangman’s, Robinson made sure to stick around annually. Now as the, public relations and marketing manager of Hangman’s, Robinson said she is able to contribute to her community with this nationwide event. This isn’t a community- based event. Founded in 1988, Hang-man’s House of Horror has been a community- based charity event since the begin-ning. “We give back to our com-munity by requesting that our charities are communi-ty- based, and the money we raise supports our communi-ty,” Robinson said. While at Texas Wesleyan University and Hangman’s

House of Horror, Robinson said she was able to leave a memorable mark by being nominated for Who’s Who, Dallas Business Journal. To Robinson, even while leaving an impression at Texas Wesleyan, Robinson’s main impression is left at Hangman’s House of Horror she said. “I have had people throw up,” she said. “I’ve had people pee on themselves; I have been kicked, but I know that’s all because my job was done. I did my job; I scared them, so I don’t get mad about it, because that’s what they are there for is to be scared”. Now, married with young daughter in elementary school, Robinson contin-ues to use her degree from Texas Wesleyan University by volunteering as the public relations practitioner at Hangman’s House as well as putting on a scare.

Alumni In Public Relations

Ram Telegram is the official newslet-ter for the alumni of MCO alumnis. It is produced by junior and senior commu-nication students enrolled at Texas Wesleyan University.

Editor: Monica Soto Contributors:Merv LindsayAntonio SimmonsJosette VargasBlake VinsonBrody Watkins

Courtesy of Darla RobinsonFamily photo

Index

Study Abroad Curriculum Commemorate Commencement

2334

For students, studying abroad frees them from the norms of the United States by exploring foreign cultures at a low cost. Professors from Texas Wes-leyan University’s School of Arts and Letters accompanied 15 students last summer on a trip to France and Spain part of Texas Wesleyan study abroad offering. In May 2014, the group spent 17 days visiting Avignon and Paris, France and Barcelo-na, Spain. They departed DFW Airport on May 18 and re-turned June 4. The trip was in association with basic art, hu-manities and digital photogra-phy classes taught by associate professors Terri Cummings and Peter Colley. “Educational travel is taking

us out of our known environ-ment and being immersed into another culture. To many, it is almost like being re-born. We see with new eyes, we stretch our thinking to under-stand an unfamiliar custom,” Cummings said. “In France we slowed down (well, some-times)–discovering a French waiter will never deliver a check until requested. Our dinner conversation focused on critical thinking around the appropriate question of “Why?” The custom of dining and enjoying the company of your dinner guests in a lei-surely, all-evening event is part of the French identity. We eventually learned this custom as was evidenced by our long, leisurely, conversation-filled ‘good-bye dinner’ to Paris.”

The group spent eight days in Avignon, three days in Bar-celona and four days in Paris. Group members spent time trying new foods, enjoying the different views of the Eiffel Tower, exploring the ancient Roman aqueduct – Pont du Gard – from the inside, expe-riencing the unfinished mas-terpiece Basilica in Barcelona – The Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family), sitting outside local cafés enjoying music and local French b-boys a type of hip-hop dancer. “Traveling abroad is prepar-ing students not only for a trip that will enhance or elevate their cultural horizons, but it will push them to know that traveling is possible,” said Jeremy Hunt, mass communi-cation junior.

France & Spain Study Abroad 2

Courtesy of Jeremy Hunt Study abroad student capturing image of the Eiffel Tower

The School of Mass Communica-tions has made some changes to their curriculum that starts this upcoming spring semester. Several new classes that have been added include: MCO 1302 Mass Media and Society, MCO 2342 Communication and Rhetoric, MCO 2345 Integrated Media Report-ing, MCO 2408 Digital Production, MCO 3310 Advanced Digital Produc-tion, MCO 3317 Advanced Digital Photography, MCO 3320 Digital Design and Editing. Professor Kay Colley mentioned, “some of these classes are revisions of previous classes [and] are combining two classes to create one. Very few of these classes are actually brand new.” Colley also said, “the biggest change came from the focus of mass commu-nications to a more digital communi-cation style.” The focus will be shifting to social media and hands-on produc-tion of projects. The communication department wants the students to have an electronic portfolio that showcases their skills when they graduate. Professor Colley says she will be teaching MCO 2345 Integrated Media Reporting and co-teaching MCO 3320 Digital Design and Editing.

The School of Mass Communica-tions hopes to have a greater con-nection between the students and teachers and accommodate different learning styles. Professor Colley mentioned that these classes, 33 hours of required communication hours, and 6 elective hours will only be man-datory for incoming Mass Communi-cations majors and transfer students.Enrolled students who have com-pleted a majority of their required classes will not have to take any of the new ones. Students who need more communication credits can look at the course replacement guide to find out what courses they need to replace courses that no longer exist. Advisors are available to aid students in determining possible prerequisites for each class before signing up.There will be a second meeting in the spring semester for new students and those that missed the meeting in October that was held to help students understand the new changes to the major. Professor Colley also added, “We designed this new curriculum so our students would be able to compete with other graduates of Mass Com-

munications programs throughout the nation, but especially graduates of other colleges and universities in the metroplex. Our focus is on taking advantage of the resources that are available on this campus to create well-rounded students who can graduate from Texas Wesleyan with a Mass Communications degree and get a great entry-level communications job.” Professor Colley went on to say, “we recommend that students also choose a minor. Business is one of the minors that we suggest along with Spanish and Psychology. We also suggest that students take several business courses to assist them in understanding how business works. We aren’t the experts on business. The folks in the School of Business Administration are, and we want our students to take advantage of that expertise.” Wesleyan will be making changes to the Mass Communication major requirements. The School of Mass Communications is offering students the opportunity to attend a meeting in the spring discussing these changes or talk to their advisor to plan their schedules accordingly.

New Curriculum Changing 3

Commemorate Your School YearsAlumni, students and friends of Texas Wesleyan are invited to make a memerable stepping stone on campus through their donations to the Wesleyan Fund. Donors of $200+ are given the chance to engrave a memerable brick in the Donor Brick Walk-way, located in front of the Eunice and James L. West Library.

Questions? Contact: Martha Earngey Director of Annual Giving (817)-531-5819 [email protected] Monica Soto

Donor Brick Walkway , located in front of the Eunice and James L. West Library

Takoia Larry B.S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Radio/ Televison/ Video

Josette Vargas B. S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Advertising/ Public Relations

December Commencement 2014 The Texas Wesleyan upcoming graduation ceremony will take hold on December 13, 2014 at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at 10AM. The graduation ceremony will include 120 undergraduates, 136 graduates and 5 doctorates. The robing/hooding ceremony will be December 12 at Martin Hall. This Wesleyan tradition since 1927, allows graduates who chose to participate, to honor the professor who has most impacted their experience by allowing them to robe/hood them.

2014 Fall Mass Communication Undergraduates

4

Martika Cook B.S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Radio/ Televison/ Video

Taylor Hodge B. S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Advertising/ Public Relations

Chuck Greeson/Texas Wesleyan UniversityPrevious graduates posing with Wesleyan Mascot, Ram