Loyola University Chicago

School of Communication Updates

• Have some questions about the New School of Communication? Advising has put together some answers for your FAQs.  

Announcements-Fall 2009 Semester

News and Events

• New Edition of Mosaic Examines Homeless Issue

• SOC Honors Student Achievements

• Phoenix Takes Top National Honors

• SPJ Chapter Publishes Lastest Waterfront

• The Phoenix and Mosaic Take Honors in Region  5

• E.J. Dionnne to Speak at First SOC Graduation

• Beta Rho Hosts SOC Town Hall Meeting

• Loyola Students Get Face Time with Potential Employer

• Benito Juarez Partnership Engages Student Journalists

• Second Issue of The Waterfront Published
• Phoenix Ranks Second in State

• Student Forum Discusses SOC Curriculum and More

• Students Learn Reporting on the Street

• IABC Professionals Offer Mentoring

• School of Communication Open House

• T-shirt Design Winners Unveiled

• Loyola Students Launch Web site in Honor or Lincoln Bicentennial

• SPJ Chapter Publishes First Issue of Quarterly

• Annual Loyola Debate Rambler on Lake Shore Campus
• Beta Rho Hosts Meet the Dean 
• Debating Society to Square Off Against British National Touring Team
• Forum Examines Chicago's Top Political Bloggers
• Debating Society Sponsors Film Screening
• Journalism Ricci Scholar Explores Media in Italy and China
• Ponce Honored at Sherwood Conservatory Gala
• News Archive 2008
• News Archive 

 2009

New Edition of Mosaic Examines Homeless Issues
June, 2009—The latest edition of Mosaic magazine is now available in print and on the Web. 

Mosaic is a Loyola University Chicago student publication dedicated to social justice issues. The 2009 edition explores homeless issues in Chicago.  The magazine is filled with student-written profiles and trend stories, each reflecting some facet of homelessness, from first-person accounts from those in need, to the perspectives of social service agencies working to comfort and assist the homeless.

Mosaic was produced by students in Loyola’s School of Communication. The students were part of Loyola’s Engaged Scholars Program, and their community partner was StreetWise, the Chicago publication produced and sold by homeless vendors.  StreetWise editors and vendors were guest lecturers and assisted students in understanding homeless issues and how to best cover them.

This year’s edition marks the 6^th anniversary of Mosaic. Since 2003, students in the School of Communication have been responsible for the magazine’s annual publication, reporting, writing and editing the stories, taking the photographs, completing the design and layout, even selling advertisements to pay for the cost of publication.  Mosaic represents the finest elements of Jesuit scholarship, combining education and reflection on social justice issues with experiential learning and community involvement.

The School of Communication realizes that it’s important to train today’s young journalists to tell a story for a variety of mediums.  Thus, Mosaic isn’t just a print publication.  The Web site, luc.edu/orgs/mosaic2009, is filled with dozens of articles and a blog where students reflect on the issue of homelessness.

If you would like a print version of Mosaic, please email your name and address to John Slania, Journalism Program Director, at jslania@luc.edu.

 

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SOC Honors Student Achievements
May, 2009—Students and their families joined the School of the Communication in celebrating the outstanding achievements of its students with an honors reception, the presentation of the Ebling PR-ize^tm and SOC’s first commencement ceremony.

SOC hosted an honors reception in the soon to be built-out convergence studio in Loyola University Chicago’s newest building at 51 E. Pearson on April 17. Attendees included faculty, staff, friends and the families of SOC lauded students. Students received recognition for outstanding achievement and service in their academic work as well as in the community. Student organizations, including the nascent SOC², honored their outstanding members for their leadership. The Jim Gibbons Broadcasting Scholarship was awarded and students achieving honors status were recognized.

Outstanding Students in Advertising/PR	Seniors: Pierrette Malek and Lauren Renner Juniors: Alexandra Kassel and  Natalie Jacobs
Outstanding Students in Communication	Seniors: Rosemary Reyes and Christine Pieretti Juniors:  Annette Bellezzo and Alexander Gerage
Oustanding Students in Journalism	Seniors: William Barrett, Laura Burns and Katie Drews Juniors: LeeAnn Maton and Sophia Venetos
Outstanding Service Awards	Olubukola Olkanni, William Barrett, Laura Burns, Jessica Cilella, Sarah Marbes and Kristen Thometz
Jim Gibbons Memorial Broadcast Scholarship	Mellissa Benson and Lauren Krause

For the complete list of awards please click on the attached SOC Honors Reception brochure.

The Advertising and Public Relations program held its annual awards ceremony, which included the presentation for the Ebling PR-ize^tm, a $2000 scholarship, on April 20 in Beane Hall in Lewis Towers. Every semester, student teams take on nonprofit clients for their Public Service Communication class and create a promotional public relations campaign pro bono for those clients. Many of those campaigns were submitted for the Ebling PR-ize^tm.  The “Join Your Neighbor to Fight Hunger in Lake County” campaign for the Faith Food Pantry in Zion, Ill., took the honors this year. Team members were: Shana Butterfield, Christina D’Ascenzo, Ami Lindsey, Pierrette Malek,  Rafal Mrozek, Caroline Pajaczek, and Erica Schulte.

On May 8 the School of Communication hosted its inaugural commencement ceremony at Joseph J. Gentile Center on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.  Family and friends, SOC’s dean, faculty, staff, and other Loyola dignitaries joined the 190 graduation candidates for the ceremony which formalizes the completion of their undergraduate work.

Phil Ponce, Distinguished Professional is Residence, was master of ceremony. Mary Pat Haley, BVM and Professor Emerita gave the invocation, which was followed by a welcome from Dean Donald Heider. Commencement addresses were given by Laura Burns, graduating Journalism major and Teach for America teacher in training, who spoke on behalf of her fellow graduates and by E.J. Dionne*, a columnist for the Washington Post. Following the formal conferring of baccalaureate degrees by Fr. Michael J. Garanzini, family and friends joined graduates at a reception in Centennial Student Forum.

*Read an interview by LeeAnn Maton, SOC reporter and editor of the Loyola Phoenix, on the challenges and opportunities awaiting new graduates in the world of news.

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Phoenix Takes Top National Honors 
May, 2009—The Loyola Phoenix student newspaper top honors nationally as the best all-around non-daily student newspaper at the Society of Professional Journalists 2008 Mark of Excellence awards in Indianapolis. Loyola students competed in several categories. Overall there were more than 3,600 entries from 39 states. 

Phoenix columnists Katie Drews and Sarah Watts also took first place in the general column-writing category.

Second-place honors went to the Loyola Phoenix Editorial Board for editorial writing and to the Phoenix’s Assistant Diversions Editor, Kate Albing, for feature writing. Albing’s award-winning story, “Class in session” chronicled the musicians at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk music.

Student Sarah Baraba won third place in the category for best magazine non-fiction articles for “Urban Farming,” a story that explored urban agriculture in Chicago for the fifth anniversary edition of Loyola’s Mosaic magazine.

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SPJ Chapter Publishes Latest Issue of Waterfront

May, 2009—In this issue of the Waterfront, members of the Loyola chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recap the events put on during the final months of the school year, such as the Poynter ethics event and Mark Saxenmeyer event. Members also reflect on their experiences at the Spring Regional Conferences and recognize the Loyola students who won the Mark of Excellence Awards                     ....Kristen Thometz 

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The Phoenix and Mosiac Take Honors in Region 5
By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter
April, 2009—Loyola publications took home top honors this month at the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards for Region 5, which recognizes exceptional student journalism in the three-state area of Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana.  

All first-place regional winners will advance to the national competition, with results to be announced in May. Regional winners were honored at the Society of Professional Journalists regional spring conference, held April 4 in Indianapolis. 

The Loyola Phoenix student newspaper won first place as the best all-around non-daily student newspaper. Phoenix columnists Katie Drews and Sarah Watts also took first place in the general column-writing category.

Second-place honors went to the Loyola Phoenix Editorial Board for editorial writing and to the Phoenix’s Assistant Diversions Editor, Kate Albing, for feature writing. Albing’s award-winning story, “Class in session” chronicled the musicians at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk music. 

Student Sarah Baraba won third place in the category for best magazine non-fiction articles for “Urban Farming,” a story that explored urban agriculture in Chicago for the fifth anniversary edition of Loyola’s Mosaic magazine.

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E.J. Dionne to Speak at First SOC Graduation
By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter
April, 2009—Washington Post political columnist, E.J. Dionne will serve as the first-ever commencement speaker for Loyola’s new School of Communication on Friday, May 8 at 7:00PM, Joseph J. Gentile Center on Lake Shore Campus. 

Passionate about religion and politics, Dionne is a senior fellow in governance at the Brookings Institution, an influential Washington, D.C. think tank on public policy, and teaches courses in religion, media, and politics at Georgetown University. His column is syndicated to more than 100 newspapers, and in addition to penning the best-selling book Why Americans Hate Politics (2001), Dionne is a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio and Meet the Press.  

“He’s endlessly curious, passionately liberal and democratic; committed to Catholic to social teaching,” said Loyola Distinguished Journalist in Residence, Don Wycliff, who met Dionne when they both worked for the New York Times earlier in their careers. "I think he’s a perfect fit for Loyola as a commencement speaker,” said Wycliff, who urged School of Communication Dean Don Heider to invite Dionne to speak at the commencement ceremony. 

 “It’s a great school with a great tradition, both in the Catholic tradition and the tradition of higher education,” Dionne said of Loyola, “And since I teach at Georgetown, I probably do have an open bias for Jesuit institutions.”

Dionne said he plans to speak on the challenges and opportunities facing this generation of graduates, weaving in Catholic social teaching along the way.

“I’ve made the argument for a while that your generation could be the next ‘Greatest Generation,’” he said. “There’s something very special about you, and [because] you’re going to come along at a time of significant crisis in the country, I think you have the opportunity to remake the country, and not every generation has that opportunity.”

“What I would recommend is that [journalism graduates] think about their lives as double lives. That is to say, ‘How can you pursue journalism, but what other lines of work are also compatible with writing?’” he said. “Your generation is going to have to be more flexible and creative in finding different avenues for your talents.”

 “I hope he brings a measure of his prestige. It can’t hurt us to have someone of his stature giving the first commencement address for the School of Communication,” Wycliff said. “I hope he’ll deliver a message that the students will take to heart.” 

March, 2009—Curriculum offerings and access to digital production facilities were the hot topics at a recent town-hall meeting that discussed the future of the School of Communication.

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Beta Rho Hosts SOC Town Hall Meeting
By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter
March, 2009—Hosted by the Communication Honor Society, Beta Rho, the SOC Town Hall Meeting on March 24, in Beane Hall, brought together students, faculty and staff to share concerns and questions raised earlier this semester during Beta Rho’s “Meet the Dean” and “Student Forum” events.

Conversation first turned to the controversy surrounding Damen 437, a digital production and editing lab on the Lake Shore campus. Formerly a 24-hour facility, its hours have been scaled back since last semester when its video production coordinator moved downtown to oversee production facilities in the new SOC building.

 “There’s not really time or space to get our homework done,” said a junior who identified himself as an International Film and Media Studies major. He called the now-limited access to digital editing equipment at the Lake Shore campus “frustrating.” 

SOC Dean Don Heider responded to his concerns, saying that a meeting over the summer will determine when the Damen lab will be open and how the equipment will be checked out while ensuring its safety. 

“We want to make sure the equipment doesn’t walk away,” Heider said, “but we want to keep it open as much as possible.” Heider added that he is working with the IFMS program director to find alternate space for a lab once Damen Hall undergoes scheduled demolition in fall 2010, but in the meantime, “I think for the fall we’ll have a more aggressive schedule [for Damen 437] because we’ll be teaching a full production class” on the Lake Shore campus.

New course offerings — especially creating more courses that integrate new media and computer skills into class work — were the night’s other major topic.  

“Things move at a glacial place in the academy” Heider said, noting that the students present will likely have graduated before any large, long-term changes to the curriculum can be implemented. However, he said that “we’re trying to add as much new media as we can as fast as we can.” 

One junior journalism major present said courses needed more emphasis on software instruction, and many agreed. Several Advertising/Public Relations students also expressed interest in being able to concentrate either in advertising or public relations. 

Patricia K. Felkins, an associate professor and one of the founders of the Ad/PR program, responded by saying that the “multidisciplinary approach” of having both fields in the same major is important to its faculty, but that they have discussed developing separate advertisement and public relations “tracks” within the major to allow students to concentrate in one, the other or both. 

“We’re trying to have as much flexibility as possible but still say, ‘It’s all related,’” Felkins said. 

In terms of offering more multimedia-related classes, Associate Dean Hannah Rockwell shared some of the courses with an emphasis on technology that are planned for fall. Students will be able to take special topics courses on “Sociable Media” and “Public Relations & New Media.” Professional in Residence, Jessica Brown will also teach a graphically-driven class titled “Short-form print storytelling” which will incorporate software skills.  

Although the SOC currently doesn’t offer a specific broadcast journalism track, Heider mentioned that new faculty member John Goheen will augment the program by teaching “Introduction to Video Production” and “Video Journalism.” Heider also said he hopes to transition the broadcast classes next year into creating a TV news product for the Web.           

Faculty members present from a variety of SOC majors all said that they are currently meeting to look at the shape of the curriculum in years to come.

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Loyola Students Get Face Time with Potential Employers
By Jake Giles
March, 2009—Competitive job markets and graduation stress brought both students and employers out to Loyola University Chicago’s School of Communication's Career Fair on Feb. 24 at Loyola’s Water Tower Campus. The fair’s organizers anticipated increased attendance from both sides and stressed how important events like this are during such hard times.

“We had 32 [employers] registered before the event, and [we are expecting] around 100 students, anticipating 20-25 more than last year,” said Max Kalchthaler, 29, the Employer Relations Coordinator for Loyola’s Career Development Center. “[Attendance is] critical. This is a chance to meet a recruiter in person, ask them questions, and set yourself apart as a candidate.

Emily Kelly, a 22 year-old Advertising and Public Relations major at Loyola, has been assisting Loyola with its Communications Careers Week activities. She anticipated the increased attendance at this year’s fair.

“Especially with the economy being what it is right now, juniors and seniors freaking out, anything you can do to get your foot in the door gives you an added bonus as far as the job market goes,” Kelly said.

Students came equipped with their resumes and business casual attire to impress potential employers.

“To be honest, at this point I’m looking for whatever I can get,” said Allison Conley, a 21 year-old junior Advertising and PR major. “I just try to be friendly, outgoing, try to put my hand out first and introduce myself. I [also] give them my resume, [and] talk about my other internship I had.”

Some students relied on other skills and experiences to set them apart.

“The fact that I traveled a lot, that makes me a little bit more marketable,” said Elsie Ayala, a 20 year-old visual communications and marketing double minor. “I’ve had a couple of internships already.”

Over 30 employers were represented at the fair, including Aware Records, Lisa P. Mitchell, and the American Health Information Management Society (AHIMA).  The Director of Public Relations for the AHIMA, 50 year-old Craig May, expressed his satisfaction with past Loyola interns.

“We’ve had a couple of interns from Loyola and been absolutely impressed and pleased by their work, their level of education and professionalism, their willingness to work hard, and their well-rounded skill sets and abilities,” May said.

Kalchthaler advised students on how use their skills and career fairs like Loyola’s to land a job.

“Employers are not ceasing their hiring, but they’re looking for that exceptional candidate,” Kalchthaler said. “Showing up in person is a great way to be that person.”

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Benito Juarez Partnership Engages Student Journalists

By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter

Combining their joy for journalism with a volunteer spirit, Loyola students are mentoring high-school reporters as part of a new project at the School of Communication with Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen.

Through the partnership with SOC established this semester, students coach Benito Juarez’s emerging school newspaper journalists on reporting, writing and computer skills.

 “The kids are really receptive to having people there in the classroom. They’re seniors too and they’re on the path to their college education,” said Laura Burns, a senior journalism major and news editor for The Phoenix. “It’s always good to have those positive influences around.” (Check out

She and four other SOC volunteers take turns visiting the high school to edit students’ articles, suggest interview ideas, teach Adobe InDesign and Photoshop programs and answer questions about what being a journalist is like.

The 12 Juarez students in turn got a taste of college life when they visited the School of Communication in February, sitting in on classes with Jessica Brown and Beth Konrad, Professionals in Residence, who teach editing and broadcast courses, and practicing their own reporting skills.

“I think they had a lot of fun, and I also think it was beneficial for them because they saw that doing journalism, you can go somewhere,” Burns said, adding that some of the students expressed interest in majoring in journalism.

Don Wycliff, Distinguished Journalist in Residence, who helped establish the program, said that the reaction from both sides has been positive so far, especially from Loyola students “looking for an outlet for volunteer activities.”

“We hope to add another school,” Wycliff said, explaining that the SOC has already begun looking to establish a similar partnership with “another school, probably on the far South Side.”

Although mentoring isn’t without its challenges — Burns said English is a second language for many Juarez students — she called her involvement rewarding. “I know the students won’t carry over [to next year], but the mission of reaching out to students at Juarez who are in need of strong mentors is all something we want to keep up,” Burns said.

Any School of Communication students who would like to volunteer and are comfortable editing students’ work are welcome to join and should contact Loyola’s chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists.

The Waterfront, Issue 1 Vol. 2, p 4. 
By Laura Burns

In a bustling classroom in Pilsen, a neighborhood half an hour south of Loyola’s Water Tower campus, a dozen young journalists scramble to meet the deadline for their newspaper. Senior journalism major Will Barrett and I hovered behind their computer screens editing the article as part of the School of Communication’s new partnership with the Benito Juarez newspaper class. We are setting up a schedule so Loyola’s journalism students will be in the classroom with these students every day of the week. The students recently visited the SOC, sat in on classes and reported from the streets of Chicago with  Loyola students. So far, we’ve had a great start to creating a partnership to bring mentors from our SPJ chapter and from the SOC to the aspiring journalists at Benito Juarez.

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Phoenix Ranks Second in State
February, 2009—The Loyola Phoenix took home second place for General Excellence at the Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) conference on Saturday, placing for the first time since earning third in 2006. The Phoenix also won 18 other awards – nine of them being first place – in categories representing all sections of the paper. Thirty-nine schools are members of ICPA, including DePaul University, Northwestern Universtity, and Columbia College.

Student Forum Discusses SOC Curriculum and More
By LeeAnn Maton*, SOC Reporter 

February, 2009—What changes would you implement in the new School of Communication?

This question was the topic of the evening as SOC students gathered at Beta Rho’s Student Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in Crown Center Auditorium on Lake Shore Campus. The purpose of the forum was to exchange ideas and discuss a range of issues pertaining to the new school and as Beta Rho President Sophia Venetos said to give the deans our input.

Course offerings and curriculums quickly became the major topics for the gathering of approximately 20 students. One senior communication major suggested that two core courses, Communication Practices (CMUN 150) and Communication Processes (CMUN 160) be combined, and that a greater variety of communications studies courses not specific to journalism or advertising/public relations be made available to students.

Others felt strongly that more sections of popular, required classes like Public Speaking & Critical Thinking (CMUN 101) and Communication Ethics & Communication (CMUN 217) should be offered since those classes typically fill up quickly.

Still other students advocated either separating the advertising/public relations major into two majors or allowing students to specialize in one discipline over the other. Some disagreed, though, saying an integrated curriculum is more beneficial because it allows students to learn both fields.

One issue on which almost all students agreed, however, was that certain communication courses should count toward the Civic Engagement Values area within Loyola’s core curriculum.

Venetos, a junior journalism major, called the mostly 300-level courses that qualify for the values area, “not appropriate” for her and her peers since the qualifying courses currently don’t include any communication-related classwork.

Other topics discussed include implementing a new process for conducing course evaluations. One student proposed that students who fill out evaluations should be able access a database of the survey results, a process that Northwestern University currently uses to help guide students registering for classes.

Students also almost unanimously agreed that the school should clarify which students belong to which advisers within the School of Communications. Many of them said that even as upperclassmen, they are still were confused as to who their adviser is. One suggestion was to post the list of advisers and advisees on the Web site.

Venetos said that since SOC Dean Don Heider would be forwarded the meeting notes, she hoped the ideas discussed could benefit students and faculty, and emphasized that “even if we’ve already graduated, [it’s] what we want to see in the future.” 

*LeeAnn Maston, reporter for the School of Communication and an intern at the Sun-Times found an opportunity to cover author Doris Kearns Goodwin's appearance on campus with her internship. Check out her story. I think she really does Loyola proud!

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Learning Journalism on a Breaking News Story

Fire Damages Holy Name Cathedral
This story was reported and written by Loyola Convergence Journalism students Caitlin Simmons, Lauren Krause, Jennifer LaDuke, Lexy Fricano and Megan Vickery. 

February, 2009—Residents of Chicago’s Gold Coast reacted with shock and sadness Wednesday after an early morning fire tore through the roof of the landmark Holy Name Cathedral.  

“The fire just went out about an hour ago. There were huge crowds of people all around,” said Paul Garcia, 28, an employee at a McDonald’s nearest the 134-year-old church. “It’s sad because people worship there. I’m not sure how much damage there is.” 

Holy Name, at 735 N. State St., is the flagship church for the Chicago Roman Catholic Archdiocese and a landmark for the neighborhood.  

The extent of the damage is currently unknown, but previous reports indicate that the fire left water damage and damage to the roof, but no injuries.

Work was being done on the ceiling and interior pillars within the church prior to the fire.

“The fire was in the attic of the church. I was here at 10 minutes to six in the morning and saw the fire,” said Cory Michael Fowler, 25, a construction worker. “It was in the center of the church and went north through the church roof.”

Witnesses said they could see flames lighting up the pre-dawn skyline.

 “I actually saw the fire shooting through the roof,” said Anthony Cole, 51, a Loyola University Chicago security guard.  Cole also noted that the fire broke out around 6 a.m., and that the freezing temperature led to difficulties putting out the fire.  

The Cathedral was closed from February to August 2008 for renovation and repairs were scheduled for about another year, according to The Rev. Dan Mayall, a priest at the cathedral.

Holy Name is expected to be closed for several more months as repairs are made.

Cardinal Francis George says he believes his parish will bounce back from the fire. “I am just grateful to God that the damage isn’t worse than it was. I pray for the firefighters the police who are here helping,” said Cardinal George in a press conference Wednesday morning. “People are so good in this parish; I’m sure they will gather around and help to repair the cathedral.”  

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IABC Professionals Offer Mentoring
By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter
January, 2009—Finding a job might be more difficult in a weak economy, but Loyola’s chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) hoped to make things easier by recently sponsoring an event that offered tips on a successful job search.

Guest speakers Mary Hills and Joanne Kitsos shared their expertise in the fields of marketing and corporate communications at the Jan. 28 event. They presented helpful strategies and a top 10 list for succeeding in a communication-based career that included advice like “bloom where you are planted” and “believe.”

The group also launched new mentorship program, which connects students with professionals in their field. A nine-year board member of Chicago’s IABC chapter, Hills said that the mentorship program gives students an advantage she didn’t have as an undergraduate.

“They’re so much further than I ever was,” Hills said. “Now with these programs you can be more confident and contribute far earlier.”

Students interested in Loyola’s chapter of IABC should contact chapter President Emily Kelly or faculty advisor Dr. Kay Felkins at loyola.iabc@gmail.com.

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School of Communication Introduces Itself at Open House
By LeeAnn Maton, SOC Reporter
January, 2009— Students and members of the university joined faculty and staff of Loyola’s new School of Communication to celebrate the opening of its new facility on Jan. 21.

The event marked a year in transition for the Department of Communication, which moved from Loyola Hall on the rim of Lake Shore Campus to 51 E. Pearson, at the heart of the Water Tower Campus as a School of Communication. “We’re at an interesting moment in communications,” said Dean Donald Heider, as he welcomed those present at the celebration. Despite the difficulties currently facing media outlets and in spite of the challenges, “it’s also kind of an amazing time.”

"This incredible era of change … gives us the chance to craft something new,” Heider said. He hopes the new school will strive to be aware of how technology is changing the field of communication and incorporate that knowledge into how it teaches its students. One such innovation will be a new convergence studio. Heider said that the finished space will include a TV studio and radio interview set. He also hopes to establish an interactive news service in the studio, with students reporting stories throughout Chicago as they break, then using the lab to post them directly to the Web.

But how will the lab affect actual broadcast classes? “Now we’ll be able to teach them!” joked Beth Konrad, who has taught broadcast news for several years. She explained that classes currently learn fundamentals of reporting and interviewing with simulated situations and computer footage, but that “there’s nothing like being in a studio.” Konrad said she hopes her classes can “try to get into some truly realistic situations."

Fellow broadcast professional, Phil Ponce agreed. “There will always be a need for people who are good storytellers,” he said. 

Danielle Basci, recently hired as general manager of Loyola’s own radio station WLUW, will also use the space after the station moves Into Baumhart Hall from its current location in Damen Hall  on the Lake Shore campus. “I think it is a benefit,” said Basci, who worked at WJHK at University of Kansas-Lawrence and NPR before coming back to her “roots” in college radio at Loyola. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work to start here,” she said, but she and her volunteers are excited about the new space. 

Guests at the open house were invited to tour the facilities — classrooms in which students like Elsie Ayala are taking courses for the first time. A junior in advertising/public relations and member of Beta Rho, the communication honors society, Ayala feels that the newly-formed School of Communication is a benefit. “It’s nice,” she said. “It’s about time I would say. I feel that most other universities have a school [dedicated to communication], and I’m glad that Loyola, in a sense is catching up.”

Along with Beta Rho, the Loyola Phoenix student newspaper, WLUW, the Society of Professional Journalists Loyola Chapter and the International Association of Business Communicators chapter participated.

Assistant Dean Shawna Cooper-Gibson said that the school’s staff and faculty are enjoying their new surroundings as well. “It’s wonderful having a sense of community between faculty and staff,” she said.