The Proof Fall 2017

THE PROOF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION NEWSLETTER • FALL 2017

Speakers Bureau returns to North Carolina Students provide keynote speech for second year The students in the Ripon College Speakers Bureau returned to Raleigh, North Carolina for the second year in a row. The group presented their keynote address, “#SpreadKindness: Re-Writing our Stories and Re-Thinking our Strategies,” to more than 300 K-12 students. The National Youth Summit for Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is an opportunity for K-12 students to come together to learn about stopping violence in their schools.

SAVE is a nonprofit organization that empowers K-12 students to fight against bullying in their schools. SAVE chapters can be found across the United States and internationally.

Six Ripon College students spoke in North Carolina: Justin Filter ’19, Avery Herbon ’18, Lauren Hince ’18, Allison Macknick ’17, Thomas Phillipsen ’19, and Maddie VandenHouten ’17.

For four Speakers Bureau members, this was a return trip. But, for Filter, SAVE was his first speaking engagement as a part of Speakers Bureau.

“The opportunity to speak at the National SAVE conference was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Filter said. “Being able to meet so many dedicated individuals to bullying prevention was inspiring.

I am extremely thankful to have been given such an opportunity and hope to make it an annual speaking engagement.”

The Speakers Bureau students also led four breakout sessions.

They spoke to people as young as elementary school-age and as

Participating in the 2017 National SAVE Summit were, from left, Avery Herbon ’18, Lauren Hince ’18, Thomas Phillipsen ’19, Justin Filter ’19, Madeline VandenHouten ’17 and Allison Macknick ’17.

experienced as high school advisors and guidance counselors.

“Overall, the trip was incredibly successful,” Herbon said.

“All of the sessions varied in content, and we received a positive response for each of them. We were able to provide people valuable information as well as have very open discussions about issues that occur every day in schools.”

The students of Speakers Bureau hope to return for the summit next year, and continue the tradition.

Jody Roy to release expanded edition of former skinhead biography An expanded edition of “Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story as told to Jody M. Roy” will be released this fall. The new edition details Meeink’s experiences since the original book was published seven years ago.

Among other things, Meeink has been on the speakers circuit. He recently spoke on campus, reflecting on his teenage years as a skinhead gang leader, his battles with addiction and the role sports played in helping him change his life and the lives of others.

Two seniors present research at National Undergraduate Conference As part of the rhetorical criticism course taught by Associate Professor Steve Martin, seniors wrote rhetorical analyses on a topic of their choice. For seniors Maddie VandenHouten and Mra Thitsa Than, this became much more than a class assignment. Both students’ papers were accepted to the DePauw University National Honors Conference. With only 30 papers accepted nationwide, these two seniors worked tirelessly to ensure their papers were the best they could be.

In VandenHouten’s essay, “The Man Behind the Persona: Bill Cosby was Never ‘America’s Dad,’ ” she examined apologia and image restoration strategies used in defense of Cosby’s sexual assault allegations.

Than’s essay, “Bodies in Protest: Free the Nipple’s Fight for Gender Equality,” focused on performance rhetoric and the concept of using one’s body to make an argument. “Free the Nipple” is a contemporary social movement aimed to promote gender equality.

From Thursday, April 2,0 to Saturday, April 22, both women attended the conference held at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. While there, they presented their research and participated in communication workshops. Both

Mra Thitsa Than ’17, left, and Madeline VandenHouten ’17 met with department alumnus Kent Menzel ’81 at DePauw University. Menzel is a professor of communication and theatre at DePauw.

VandenHouten and Than found it to be a rewarding weekend.

“It was a unique and powerful experience to be surrounded by peers and scholars who have the same passions as I do,” VandenHouten said. “While there, Mra and I were able to indulge in conversations with people who challenged

us to think more deeply. The entire time, I found myself overwhelmingly grateful for the education I received at Ripon and the strong rhetorical foundation I will take with me after I graduate.”

Ripon’s Department of Communication has been sending students to this national conference for more than 15 years.

Department Faculty selected for Excellence in Teaching Awards

ABOVE LEFT: Mary Brott, Alliant Energy manager of business support and development, presents Associate Professor of Communication Steve Martin ’96 with the James R. Underkofler Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award at the April Awards Convocation. President Zach Messitte and Board Chair Ron Peterson ’70 look on with pleasure. ABOVE RIGHT: Professor Jody Roy accepts a May Bumby Severy, Class of 1908, Award from Messitte.

THE PROOF 2 FALL 2017

What is the class of 2017 up to?

EMMA BRONSON

ALLISON MACKNICK

Emma will be attending graduate school in London.

She is pursuing a master’s in Communication.

Allison recently moved to Chicago and is pursuing a career in theatre. She recently was cast in “Lisette Dances Divine,” a 1920s comedy.

MRA THITSA THAN

MADELINE

Mra is working in public VANDENHOUTEN relations and integrated Maddie is working in the marketing and communications admission office for Ripon for Vero Public Relations in her College. home country of Myanmar.

A student’s perspective on studying in nation’s capital Lauren Hince ’18 spent fall 2016 in Washington, D.C. At first, I struggled with going offcampus for the Washington semester off-campus study program. I was worried about leaving behind my obligations, commitments and departments. As a double major in communication and politics & government, I knew Washington, D.C., would be a good location for me to have a professional study experience.

I chose to participate in the “Journalism and New Media” track at American University. The program is structured based on several key disciplines. Within each discipline, students have 21/2 days of classes and 21/2 days of interning per week.

My favorite experience of the trip was the work I did for my internship. I worked for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the senior senator from Minnesota. I helped prepare research and background information for hearings and committee meetings, as well as gave tours of the Capitol and answered constituent calls. My favorite task was drafting the senator’s remarks for a roundtable discussion about voting rights.

The office didn’t have a speechwriter, and they let me practice my communication skills.

My most awkward encounter while in D.C. was when I rode the secret underground Senate subway with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. A subway runs from the office buildings to the Capitol, meant only for senators and their staffs. There are three cars, with the first and last car reserved for senators. I jumped into the middle car like a good intern when suddenly Paul enters my car. I jumped out of my seat and tried to leave the car, as I had been instructed. Paul stopped me and told me it was OK to stay. He then told me he didn’t need my seat and I could sit down. I was too star-struck to hear what he was saying and proceeded to stand awkwardly next to him the whole ride.

My days weren’t all filled with uncomfortable Senate subway rides.

On the days I was not interning, I had class. The program emphasized on-thego learning – meaning we were never in a classroom and were always visiting new places. Some of my favorite places we visited were BuzzFeed, NPR, The Washington Post and NBC. My least favorite part about D.C. was the metro. At first it seems very convenient, but then you ride it long enough to realize your mistake in judgment. Part of the problem is that the metro is under construction, so it frequently gets delayed

or shuts down. It’s because of this that I missed seeing Michelle Obama speak. I was supposed to go to the White House on a press pass to observe the last garden harvest of the year. My subway got stuck in the tunnel, and I ended up missing the press escort. The security guards still let me in, and I ended up waiting in the White House briefing room for an hour before I gave up and went home.

The Washington Semester program was a great investment. Although I was hesitant to leave Ripon, I am glad I made the choice to step away and experience a new way of living. My goal is to return to Washington, D.C., post-graduation to work in a field that combines both politics and communication. ~Lauren Hince ’18

RIPON COLLEGE 3 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION

Capstone class hosts second annual youth advocacy conference Senior Communication Students Plan Conference for High School Students This year, as part of their Senior Capstone Seminar, the graduating class was asked to coordinate and facilitate a Youth Advocacy Conference to be held on campus this spring. Their instructions from Professor of Communication Jody Roy were simple: plan a conference with the theme “Communication and Crime” for high school students.

“I really enjoyed being given the opportunity to plan and execute a conference on this scale as an undergraduate student.” Emma Bronson ’17 said. “Interacting with high school students and being able to teach them theory was my favorite part.”

Roy said, “In the new department curriculum, the Senior Capstone focuses on applied communication. In addition to semester-long applications of theory, including engaging in social media discussion of those applications with alumni and others, we wanted to have a major group project that challenged students to apply theory and also skills in new ways. The conference for high school students, a format we’ve used in some past years, was ideal for this purpose.”

The five graduating seniors were Madeline VandenHouten, Allison Macknick, Mikayla Huesman, Mra Thitsa Than and Emma Bronson. They were responsible for the entire event, doing everything from coordinating with the schools in attendance, planning six breakout sessions, organizing the conference’s schedule and facilitating the event.

The seniors knew they could not accomplish this task alone. They asked Speakers Bureau as well as current sophomores and juniors to help with the break-out sessions. In total, 12 students from the department were involved. The six sessions offered at the conference covered: drug and alcohol awareness, unhealthy relationships, crime’s influence on the media, human trafficking, varying legal consequences of 16-, 17- and18-year-

THE PROOF

ALUMNI UPDATES DR. PETER JENSEN ’07 was awarded the W. Charles Redding Dissertation Award from the Organizational Communication Division at the International Communication Association. The title of his dissertation is “Organizing Possibilities: Examining Normative and Alternative Nonprofit Organizing Practices.”

SHAWN KARSTEN ’09 and CARRISA ZUERCHER KARSTEN ’10 welcomed baby Evelina Ann to their family Aug. 14. We look forward to her joining the Comm Department family in about 18 years.

ALYSSA PAULSEN ’10 is the marketing and project coordinator for Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Emma Bronson ’17, Madeline VandenHouten ’17 and Allison Macknick ’17 were among the seniors who planned and implemented the Youth Advocacy Conference.

olds, and high school in and out groups.

After months of preparation, high school students from Ripon, Laconia and Lumen came to campus Friday, April 7. Pam Mumm ’08, an alumna of the communication department, brought about 15 of her students from Laconia High School. She felt strongly that the conference was a success overall.

“My students were able to benefit from the youth conference in many ways,” she said. “They were also able to have frank discussions about relevant issues, such as drugs and alcohol, without being preached at by a teacher or parent.

I think the conference is an excellent avenue to connect the communication department to area high schools. I hope the communication department continues to provide area high schoolers this opportunity in the future.”

The senior class was pleased with the day and considered this event to be one of the most rewarding projects of their college careers.

“The youth conference provided a great way for high school students to engage with topics they might not otherwise be exposed to at school,” said Mikayla Huesman ’17. “It was a great learning experience for both the participants and hosts.”

JEREMY JOHNSON ’12 founded a website with the goal of keeping science strong in the United States. His efforts can be viewed at http:// sciencenation.us/ BENJAMIN FIRGENS ’14 wrote a Top Student Paper titled “Mediating Nature: Aldo Leopold’s Ethics of Astonishment” in the Visual Communication division of the National Communication Association.

CHLOE PIEPHO ’15 started graduate school at the University of Southern California. She is working toward a master’s in strategic public relations.

For more updates about our alumni, please “Like” the Ripon College Communication Department page on Facebook.

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FALL 2017